The number of Hoosier victims of identity theft has nearly doubled in the last five years, according to a QuoteWizard report based on Federal Trade Commission data.
While cybercrime has steadily increased across the country, in Indiana, crimes like identity theft are rising at a faster rate than elsewhere.
Indiana ranks 11 th nationally for the greatest rate of increase in identity theft. Incidents in the state increased by more than 94% – much higher than the national average of 62%.
Federal Trade Commission data also show that credit card fraud reports in Indiana increased by more than 122%, and bank fraud increased by almost 158% in the same period.
Already this year, there have been more than 3,300 reports of identity theft in the state.
Indiana State Police Bloomington Public Information Officer Sgt. Kevin Getz said their digital forensics unit has also investigated an increased number of cybercrimes that target children.
“We've seen a very big uptick of sexual exploitation, and extortion related to minors,” Getz said. “In other words, suspects are accessing, and communicating with minors with children.”
Getz said that there are some ways that Hoosiers can keep themselves and their families safe like frequently changing passcodes, double-checking sender email addresses or calling the sender when a message seems suspicious.
“All of us certainly need to take precautions in trying to limit the ability of people to use that internet against us,” he said.