2025 Trends in Identity Report

Of attempted misuse attempts that involved financial accounts, 14% involved checking accounts.

New types of scams reported included toll road scams, which accounted for 3% of all reported scams.

For attempted misuse, thieves tried to open a new account (69%) more often than attempting to take over an existing account (31%).

Google Voice scams decreased by 84 percentage points and made up 9% of all scam reports.

There was a 754-percentage-point increase in reports of account takeover involving tech accounts.

The top methods of identity compromise reported were due to PII being shared in a scam, stolen documents with personal information, and unauthorized access to a computer or mobile device.

Individuals who reported stolen documents with personal information primarily reported stolen driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, payment cards, birth certificates, and phones or tablets.

Of those who contacted the ITRC, 35% reported personal information compromise.

Attempted misuse largely involved financial accounts (85%).

The ITRC saw a 31-percentage-point decrease in reported identity crimes (compromise, theft, and misuse) compared to the previous year.

Job scams dropped by 31 percentage points and totalled 10% of all scam reports

Impersonation scams were the top reported type of scam to the ITRC, showing a 148-percentage-point increase year-over-year.

There was a 41-percentage-point decrease in victims reporting their PII was shared in a scam.

There was an overall increase in other reported compromises, including a 71-percentage-point rise in reports of stolen documents with personal information.

36% of reports of misuse involved new account creation using an individual’s personal information.

51% of impersonation scams impersonated a general business.

There was a 47-percentage-point increase in reports of account takeover involving person-to-person payment apps.

The number of people experiencing multiple identity-related concerns increased year-over-year from 15% to 24%.

Of those who contacted the ITRC, 52% reported misuse of their personal information.

The number of fraudulent new property leases and rentals reported rose 102 percentage points.

Reports of fraudulent federal student loans increased 111 percentage points.

51% of impersonation scams impersonated a general business.

Of attempted misuse attempts that involved financial accounts, 56% involved credit card accounts.

21% of impersonation scams impersonated a financial institution.

53% of reports of misuse involved account takeover.

Reports of stolen birth certificates spiked 612 percentage points.

Attempted misuse largely involved financial accounts (85%).