Identity Theft Increasing in Illinois, Montana, North Dakota

Researchers at ID Analytics, Inc., leader in Identity Risk Management, conducted a study recently that shows the growing number of identity theft cases according to geographic location. The test was conducted from January through December 2006 and was based on actual and attempted fraud cases rather than those reported by consumer victims. They announced the results today, showing that the most rapidly growing cases were found in Illinois, Montana, and North Dakota.

When researchers examined identity theft by county they found that 13 counties in North Dakota and seven counties in Montana came up as "hot spots". They furthered the investigation by examining the results by zip code. The cities with the fastest growing activity were: Springfield, Illinois, Bozeman, Montana, and Missoula, Montana. Tests have also concluded that identity fraud is increasing more in the upper Midwest, Northern California, Nevada, Utah, and Maine. On the other hand, it shows a decrease in theft cases in the southern states such as Southern California, Texas (along the Mexican border), and in cities further north like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.

Stephen Coggeshall, ID Analytics' chief technology officer and author of the research says, "These findings may seem surprising because none of these emerging hot spots are high population density areas, and some are even rural... This may indicate a trend toward popularization of this crime, as well as point out that perpetrators are discovering that they can act under the radar in these remote rural areas."

ID Analytics analyzed data from its ID Network, the nations only cross industry identity network, and was able to gain a better understanding of why identity theft takes place. Further examination of the data, allows ID Analytics to determine where identity theft is most likely to occur. The findings of the study show the top ten US cities where identity theft is increasing most rapidly. The results are:

Cities:

Springfield, Illinois

Bozeman, Montana

Missoula, Montana

Whitefish, Montana

Lolo, Montana

Bismarck, North Dakota

Hamilton, Montana