New survey shows the cost of identity theft in Black communities
19% of victims spent more than a year resolving their issues
(InvestigateTV) — According to a joint study between the Black Researchers Collective (BRC) and the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), 45% of African Americans surveyed experienced identity theft in some way over the last couple of years.
The study spoke with focus groups from three major cities with large Black populations, asking about experience with identity theft, how they’ve protected themselves against it, and if they were able to recover when compromised.
Black Researchers Collective Co-Founder and Director Dr. Glenance Green said most of the prevalence of victimization fell within five to six categories:
- Bank accounts, credit cards and checks
- Income tax, unemployment or other types of scams
- Misuse of personal identity and information in childhood
- Phone and utility bills
- Home and student loans
The study showed that of those who were the victims of identity crimes within the last five years, at least a quarter were victimized during the pandemic.
Many participants reported having their identity stolen by someone they know – some incidents involving family members.
Dr. Green said this could be a personal and complex battle for those exploited.
“As it pertains to family members, there’s something very unique to the Black cultural experience that makes it very unique to address those things,” Dr. Green explained. “We depend on one another, we support one another. In addition to that, we are working in structures that historically oppressed us as well, right? So, the people that we’re going to for support and remediation, and this came up in the study, don’t really necessarily believe the stories that we’re telling them. There aren’t necessarily any clear pathways for it to be resolved.”
To help reduce the risk of identity theft, James Lee with the ITRC shared things people can do ahead of time to lower the chances of personal info being taken.
“You need to make sure that you keep your personal information safe and secure, that you use strong, long passwords on your accounts that you use online,” Lee advised.
Lee also suggested that those using a lot of accounts online make sure they’re using multi-factor authentication.
“We know in these particular cases, because it is a family situation, make sure that you keep that information restricted to only people that really need it,” Lee said. “And this is going to be the tough part, is, making sure that you understand the consequences of what happens if your information is compromised, and you don’t do something to try to remedy that. And explain that consequence to your family members as well.”
Both groups plan on doing more studies and public awareness in cities across the country, not only to reduce identity theft in black communities, but also to inform, educate and inspire.
“Your personal identity is information and data is information. And information is power,” Black Researchers Collective Co-Founder and Deputy Director Shari Runner said. “So, use that. Remember that as you think about it!”
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