Experian : New Jersey consumers are concerned about identity theft and doing something about it

COSTA MESA, Calif., Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The increases in data breaches and identity theft seem to be connected. A survey among New Jersey residents by Experian's ProtectMyID(®) reveals that 48 percent of survey respondents have been a victim of identity theft or know someone who has, while almost the same number (44 percent) know someone who has been affected by a data breach or experienced one directly.

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This may be why many New Jersey residents are concerned about identity theft (68 percent), which could be contributing to their good security habits. A majority of survey respondents take precautions, such as avoiding sharing their Social Security number unless required (76 percent), checking account statements for any erroneous activity (72 percent), keeping antivirus and antimalware programs up to date (68 percent) and not responding to phishing scams that ask for personal information (68 percent).

More than half of survey respondents have also changed their shopping behavior due to retail data breaches. Thirty-two percent prefer to use cash when possible, 18 percent do not shop at stores that have had a data breach, and 16 percent do not use a credit card as often.

However, there is room for improvement. Only 46 percent of New Jersey residents shred canceled checks; 41 percent know which statements to expect every month to identify if one may be missing; and, surprisingly, only about a third (36 percent) password-protect their smartphone or tablet device. Almost half of respondents (46 percent) do not use different passwords for each online account or Website.

"The good news is that New Jerseyans are taking key steps to protect their identities," said Becky Frost, senior manager of Consumer Education for Experian's ProtectMyID. "However, there is room to do more, especially when it comes to using devices and managing online accounts. Consumers need to remember that even a stolen email address can lead to other personal information being accessed and used for fraud."

Other ways New Jersey residents safeguard their identities

    --  Sixty-one percent of survey respondents use PINs and passwords that are
        difficult to guess, and they do not write them down
    --  Sixty percent have checked their credit report at least once for
        identity theft
    --  More than 50 percent who were victims of identity theft noticed charges
        on a credit or debit card to discover the fraud
    --  Many (60 percent) understand that adding friends on social networks that
        are unknown is risky

The key steps to protect yourself

    --  Change passwords regularly
    --  Avoid sharing personally identifying information, such as your birthday,
        on social networks
    --  Shred financial documents before disposing of them
    --  Review credit reports regularly and watch for signs of fraud
    --  If you receive a data breach notification letter from a business, follow
        the instructions and enroll in its offer for free protection products
    --  Have a partner in the fight against identity theft, consider enrolling
        in identity protection monitoring, and take action if you receive alerts
        that your identity could be compromised

About the survey
The online survey was conducted by Qualtrics on behalf of Experian from Sept. 17-22, 2014, among 370 adults ages 18 and older residing in New Jersey. This online survey is not based on a probability sample; therefore, no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact ann@pitchpublicrelations.com.

About Experian's ProtectMyID
ProtectMyID is a leading, full-service provider of identity theft detection, protection and resolution. ProtectMyID offers identity theft protection supported by experienced identity theft resolution professionals who deliver personal attention that customers can rely on. ProtectMyID.com(®) is a Website owned by ConsumerInfo.com Inc., an Experian company. For more information about how ProtectMyID helps consumers protect themselves against identity theft, please visit http://www.protectmyid.com.

About Experian
Experian(®) is a leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2014, was US $4.8 billion. Experian employs approximately 16,000 people in 39 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Ann Noder
Pitch PR
1 480 263 1557
ann@pitchpublicrelations.com

Sandra A. Bernardo, APR
Experian Consumer Services
1 949 567 3676
sandra.bernardo@experianinteractive.com

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SOURCE Experian