How common is identity theft in Pa.? Here’s a look at the data | The Numbers Racket

Identity theft is a serious crime, involving the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person’s identifying information without their knowledge or consent. 

Some of the most stolen data includes social security numbers, bank account information, personal information such as birth date and home address and other identifying data. 

So how common is identity theft in Pennsylvania? Let’s take a look. 

Over the past five years, identity theft cases have slowly decreased in Pennsylvania.

2016 … 1,666 cases. 

2017 … 1,784 cases. 

2018 … 1,621 cases. 

2019 … 1,523 cases. 

2020 … 1,142 cases. 

Of those who committed identity theft, 59 percent were male, while 40 percent were female, according to data compiled by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. 

37 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft between the ages of 26-35. 

23 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft between the ages of 19-25. 

21 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft between the ages of 36-45.

16 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft between the ages of 46-65. 

2 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft by those who were 18 or younger. 

1 … the percentage of people who committed identity theft by those who were 66 and older.

By County

The ten counties with the highest number of cases of identity theft in the past five years were: 

• Montgomery County, 18 percent. 
• Philadelphia County, 9 percent. 
• Allegheny County, 8 percent. 
• Bucks County, 7 percent. 
• Delaware County, 7 percent. 
• Chester County, 7 percent. 
• York County, 3 percent. 
• Berks County, 3 percent. 
• Westmoreland County, 3 percent. 
• Dauphin County, 3 percent.