Latest news with #ITRC
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Identity Theft Resource Center 2025 Trends in Identity Report: Impersonation Scams Rise 148 Percent & Become Top Reported Scam
Criminals typically impersonated a general business (51 percent of impersonation scams) or a financial institution (21 percent of impersonation scams) SAN DIEGO, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, has published its fourth annual report that looks at the identity concerns reported by victims of identity theft, fraud and scams, along with individuals seeking prevention advice. The ITRC's 2025 Trends in Identity Report is supported by the ITRC's Alliance for Identity Resilience. In the report, the ITRC outlines the identity crimes reported to the ITRC from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, and how criminals convinced people to willingly share information, as well as how stolen information was used to open new accounts and evade law enforcement. The report also outlines the concerns of people seeking preventative information. According to the 2025 Trends in Identity Report, the ITRC saw a 31-percentage-point decrease in reported identity crimes (compromise, theft and misuse) compared to the previous year. However, the number of people experiencing multiple identity-related concerns increased year-over-year from 15 percent to 24 percent. Of those who contacted the ITRC, 52 percent reported misuse of their personal information, and 35 percent reported personal information compromise. Download the ITRC's 2025 Trends in Identity Report Most reports of misuse involved account takeover (53 percent) and new account creation using an individual's personal information (36 percent). Victims also reported attempted misuse of their identity credentials. Thieves tried to open a new account (69 percent) more often than attempting to take over an existing account (31 percent). Attempted misuse largely involved financial accounts (85 percent), specifically credit card accounts (56 percent) and checking accounts (14 percent). There was a 754-percentage-point increase in reports of account takeover involving tech accounts and a 47-percentage-point increase in reports of account takeover involving person-to-person payment apps. The number of fraudulent new property leases and rentals reported rose 102 percentage points, and reports of fraudulent federal student loans increased 111 percentage points. The top methods of identity compromise reported to the ITRC were due to personally identifiable information (PII) being shared in a scam, stolen documents with personal information and unauthorized access to a computer or mobile device. There was a 41-percentage-point decrease in victims reporting their PII was shared in a scam. However, there was an overall increase in other reported compromises, including a 71-percentage-point rise in reports of stolen documents with personal information. 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. Reports of stolen birth certificates spiked 612 percentage points. The ITRC also reported the following: Impersonation scams were the top reported type of scam to the ITRC, a 148-percentage-point increase year-over-year. Criminals typically impersonated a general business (51 percent of impersonation scams) or a financial institution (21 percent of impersonation scams). New types of scams reported to the ITRC included toll road scams, which accounted for three (3) percent of all reported scams. Google Voice scams decreased by 84 percentage points and made up nine (9) percent of all scam reports while job scams dropped by 31 percentage points and totaled ten (10) percent of all scam reports. "Our 2025 Trends in Identity Report highlights many findings for us to follow, like sharp increases in impersonation scams, stolen birth certificates and account takeover involving existing accounts," said Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "One trend that has continued is a decline in the number of victims reporting identity crimes. Fewer people are reporting instances of identity theft, fraud and scams, but there is every reason to believe it is just that – fewer reports, not fewer crimes being committed." "We are only at the very beginning of what artificial intelligence (AI) can do to facilitate identity and cyber crimes," Velasquez continued. "The power of AI in the hands of professional criminals is accelerating a shift we've long warned about – where traditional crime patterns give way to a landscape in which anyone can be a victim. The ITRC is ready to help people and businesses prevent identity crimes and recover when they happen." The ITRC identified the following identity trends: AI technology makes it easier for thieves to coerce unsuspecting victims into giving away their identity credentials. Identity thieves are increasingly able to access various existing accounts. Individuals are becoming more curious about protecting their identity. Consumers and victims can receive free support and guidance from a knowledgeable live advisor by texting or calling 888.400.5530 or visiting to live chat. About the Identity Theft Resource Center Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center® (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live chat, and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities. About the Alliance for Identity Resilience The Alliance for Identity Resilience (AIR) was established as an advisory board by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). The advisory board operates within the framework of the ITRC's mission to empower individuals and businesses through education, support and innovative strategies. The primary purpose of AIR is to advise the ITRC on matters related to identity crime. The board serves as a consultative body to foster collaborative discussions, advance thought leadership and advocacy, identify emerging challenges, offer guidance on projects and initiatives, facilitate industry collaboration, and propose holistic solutions to enhance identity protection and victim recovery services. Media Contact Identity Theft Resource Center Alex Achten Sr. Director of Communications & Media Relations 888.400.5530 Ext. 3611 media@ Media Contact Alex Achten, Identity Theft Resource Center, 888-400-5530 x 3611, media@ Twitter Facebook View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Identity Theft Resource Center Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
14 hours ago
- CNET
Fewer Identity Theft Reports, Larger Losses: Here's What to Make of Latest Research
Is your data protected? Getty The Identity Theft Resource Center said Tuesday that fewer people contacted it for help over the past year, but also warned that new technologies, including artificial intelligence, are making it increasingly easier for cybercriminals to successfully victimize people. The ITRC mentions that, while fewer people are reporting crimes, the crimes that are reported represent greater financial loss. According to the ITRC's 2025 Trends In Identity Report, a total of 7,580 individuals contacted the nonprofit group with an identity-related concern during the year that ended March 31, 2025, marking a 31% decline from the same period a year ago. That drop followed another decrease the previous year. Additionally, the ITRC said the trend has continued into this year, but it remains unclear as to exactly why. The ITRC said it's possible that criminals are using tech like AI to better target victims, so they don't need to attack as many people. It also theorized that the decrease could be due to "victim fatigue" stemming from the seemingly never-ending string of data breaches and cyberattacks. On the more positive side, the ITRC said the decrease could also be the result of more people taking steps to protect their identities and more companies using better tech to protect their systems from attacks. Of those that contacted the ITRC for help during the past year, 52% reported that their personal information had been misused, meaning that their personal data was stolen and used to do things like open or take over accounts, or to get a job. And 35% said that their personal information was compromised, meaning that it was exposed in a data breach or scam, but had not yet been misused. The group said those numbers mark a switch from previous years, when more people reported that that information had been compromised and fewer said it had been misused. In terms of scams, impersonation scams, where criminals posed as businesses, banks and other legitimate organizations, were the most reported. They more than doubled from the year before and accounted for 34% of total scams reported. More details about the financial consequences of these scams will be available when the ITRC publishes its impact report in October.
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- RTÉ News
Previous winners Keith Cronin and Callum Devine to lock horns again in Killarney International Rally of the Lakes
This May Bank Holiday weekend sees the Assess Ireland Killarney International Rally of the Lakes, round three of the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC) with the two previous winners set to go head-to-head once again in the Kingdom. Keith Cronin and Callum Devine share a win apiece after 2025's opening two rounds as Cronin won the opening event, the West Cork Rally, after the original opening round in Galway was cancelled while Devine, the defending ITRC winner from 2024, won the Circuit of Ireland. The ITRC is due for seven rounds this year, but as yet no new date has been set for a running of the Galway International which never got to the start ramp due to winter storm damage. Devine was a fortunate winner of the 'Circuit' last month as Cronin's Citroen C3 Rally2 was on top only for brake issues and a puncture on the penultimate stage cost the Cork ace any chance of winning. Devine now heads to Kerry this weekend for the two-day event having won each of the last three Rally of the Lakes and he will top the seedings list in his Skoda Fabia Rally2. Ironically, a puncture also denied Cronin a win in Killarney last year as Devine took advantage of Cronin's woes to take a hat-trick of wins. "We've seen how fickle rallying can be, especially over the past couple of years," said Cronin. "We had a good lead built up on the Lakes 12 months ago when we got the puncture on Saturday afternoon, it cost us well over two minutes. "Any chance of winning the rally was gone and I really felt like parking it up, but Mikie (Galvin) (Cronin's co-driver) pushed me on to keep going and we wound up fourth and that was really important in terms of the Tarmac Championship, as we got it (the title) on the Cork '20' on the tie-break." Matt Edwards will be desperate to at least get to the finish on the 15-stage event this weekend as the three-time British champion retired from runner-up positions in both West Cork and Circuit of Ireland in his Hyundai i20 Rally2. 2022 and '23 ITRC frontrunner Meirion Evans is seeded fourth in Killarney with the Welshman aboard a Toyota Yaris Rally2. Josh Moffett and Eddie Doherty, seeded fifth and sixth respectively, were two more drivers who lost out on decent Circuit of Ireland finishes as Moffett got stuck in a ditch while a double puncture spoiled Doherty's podium hopes. Others who will be in contention include David Kelly who finished on the podium in the Circuit in the Volkswagen Polo. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia), Cathan McCourt (Hyundai) and Declan's son Michael Boyle (Volkswagen Polo GTi R5) round out the top ten seeds. The ceremonial start will take place in the Killarney town centre on Friday evening. There is an early start for the crews on Saturday, with the first of the day's nine stages getting under way at 8.15am, consisting of three loops of three stages: Headford, Lisbabe and Red Bog, to the east and north of the town. The rally will re-start on Sunday morning with the famous Molls Gap stage at 10:50am, and this is followed by Beallaghbeama and Shanara. That loop of stages is repeated on Sunday afternoon, making a total of six stages on day two. The 'Finish Ramp' celebrations will take place at rally headquarters, the Gleneagle Hotel, at 5.15pm. The organisers the Killarney and District Motor Club are also distributing thousands of stickers and have included Michael Gaine's story in the rally programme, asking for help in his case. Michael Gaine was last seen in Kenmare on 20 March and an extensive missing person's investigation was launched which was upgraded this week to a homicide investigation this week by Gardai. Gaine was an avid rally man and was a participant himself and competitors will pass Gaine's farm in Carrig East, Kenmare on Saturday. Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes 2025 Top 10 seeds 1 Callum Devine/Noel O'Sullivan, Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 2 Keith Cronin/Mikie Galvin, Citroën C3 Rally 2 3 Matt Edwards/David Moynihan, Hyundai i20N Rally 2 4 Meirion Evans/Ger Conway, Toyota GR Yaris Rally 2 5 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes, Citroën C3 Rally 2 6 Eddie Doherty/Tom Murphy, Skoda Fabia Evo Rally 2 7 David Kelly/Arthur Kierans, Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 8 Declan Boyle/Patrick Walsh, Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2 9 Cathan McCourt/Barry McNulty, Hyundai i20N Rally 2
