Americans now fear identity theft more than burglary
25 Jun 2026 · 2 min read · Comments
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A 2025 survey found that 66% of Americans worry most about identity theft — more than home burglary (25%) or carjacking (9%). The fear is rational. The consequences of identity theft can take years to resolve, and unlike a burglary, the damage often isn't visible until it's already significant.
The survey, conducted by YouGov for OmniWatch in September 2025 among 1,172 US adults, found a clear shift in how Americans perceive personal safety. The traditional fears of physical crime — home invasion, car theft — have been overtaken by the digital crime most people now consider most likely to affect them directly.
The concern is well-founded. Identity theft cost Americans $12.5 billion in 2024, according to FTC and Experian data. Approximately 15 million Americans are victimised each year. And unlike a stolen wallet, a compromised identity can keep being exploited for years — new credit accounts opened, tax returns filed, medical bills run up — before the victim has any idea it's happening.
What people fear vs. what they do about it
The gap between fear and action is striking: 66% fear identity theft most, but only 21% have taken active steps to protect against it. The reasons are familiar — it feels abstract, the setup seems complicated, people assume it won't happen to them specifically. All three assumptions are wrong.
The actual risk reduction steps
- Unique passwords: stops credential stuffing, which enables most account takeovers
- Two-factor authentication: blocks access even when a password is compromised
- Data broker removal: reduces the personal information available for social engineering
- Breach monitoring: alerts you when your email and credentials appear in new leaks
- Incogni handles data broker removal automatically, no manual opt-out required
The fear is justified. The inaction isn't necessary — the protective steps are available, affordable, and most take under an hour to set up. The gap between 66% worried and 21% protected is mostly friction, not complexity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a data broker and why does it matter for identity theft?+
Data brokers legally aggregate and sell personal information — your name, address, phone, relatives, and more. This data is the raw material for social engineering attacks and targeted phishing, which are primary pathways to identity theft.
How do I remove myself from data broker databases?+
You can manually opt out of each broker individually, which takes many hours and requires re-submission as brokers re-add your data. Services like Incogni automate this process — sending removal requests to hundreds of brokers and monitoring for re-addition.
How common is identity theft in the US?+
Approximately 33% of US adults have experienced identity theft, per research from IPX1031 and Demandsage. The FTC received over 1.13 million identity theft reports in 2024. Losses totalled $12.7 billion that year, according to Experian.
