Identity Theft Increasing in South Carolina

According to a new study by Javelin Strategy & Research, cases of identity theft in South Carolina jumped 15 percent in 2011 over 2010, compared to a 13 percent rise nationally. South Carolina now ranks 20th among states for its per capita rate of identity theft. The report noted that sharing too much information on social media contributes to higher incidents of fraud, and that smartphone users are substantially more likely to be victims of identity theft. Nationwide, 11.6 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2011. State Treasurer Curtis Loftis planned to speak at USC’s Darla Moore School of Business on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. as part of a public education campaign about preventing identity theft.

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