While many New York consumers have been affected by identity theft, there is still a lack of concern about the risks

A survey by Experian's ProtectMyID® shows that individuals need to be more proactive in protecting their security

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Oct 27, 2014, 06:00 ET

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey among New York residents by Experian's ProtectMyID^® reveals that while almost 50 percent of respondents have been a victim of identity theft or know someone who has, nearly one third are still not concerned about the issue. This complacency could be the reason why many New Yorkers are not practicing some important security habits, possibly putting them at higher risk for identity theft and fraud.

Only 45 percent of New York respondents password protect their smartphones or tablet devices, 47 percent do not use different passwords for each online account or Website they use and 51 percent do not shred cancelled checks. These basic steps are not being taken in spite of the increase in data breaches. In 2013, more than 900 different New York businesses experienced data breaches or hacking events, which affected more than 7 million people in the state alone¹.

However, data breaches seem to have some effect on shopping behavior as 36 percent of respondents prefer to use cash when possible and 20 percent use their store/debit card less often. Fifteen percent do not shop at stores that have had a data breach.

"In today's environment of data breaches, consumers should be diligent about protecting and monitoring their identities," said Experian's ProtectMyID Senior Manager of Consumer Education Becky Frost. "There are many simple safety precautions individuals can take on a daily basis to mitigate the risk of identity theft, and also ways to catch it quickly if it occurs, such as checking one's credit report regularly so that any fraudulent activities can be identified and addressed."

Many New Yorkers are using a few key precautions with 71 percent of respondents avoiding sharing their Social Security number unless required, 67 percent checking account statements for activity that is not theirs, and 66 percent keeping antivirus and antimalware programs up to date.

Additional survey findings

Residents of the Big Apple know where to get information about protecting themselves but aren't always acting on the safety tips.

Individuals look to trusted sources and broadcast news for protection education

Almost 70 percent of respondents feel it is useful to get information directly sent by companies they do business with such as a bank or a social network
Sixty-four percent of respondents learned about identity theft protection via the Internet and 54 percent through television or radio
A majority of respondents also find campaigns by organizations or government agencies helpful (60 percent)

More security precautions can be taken

More than 50 percent of respondents do not keep track of statements they expect every month to identify if a statement is missing
Almost 40 percent of respondents do not avoid sharing passwords with friends or family members
Thirty-seven percent of respondents do not check their credit report for fraudulent activity
One out of three of respondents does not know if checking a credit report is the best way to discover fraud

Top tips to safeguard your identity

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 September 17-22, 2014, among 983 adults ages 18 and older residing in New York. 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 [email protected].

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 São 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.

¹ Identity Theft Resource Center, August 04, 2014

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SOURCE Experian’s ProtectMyID