Report Ranks Florida No.1 for Identity Theft
By Matt O'Hern // May 8, 2013
Melbourne -- Palm Bay -- Titusville Metro Area Ranks Number 14 of all U.S.
ABOVE VIDEO: Identity thieves in the Space Coast have targeted everyone from families to firefighters at Kennedy Space Center. Social security numbers and tax forms were stolen from 27 firefighters.
The Melbourne-Palm Bay-Titusville metro area is 14th overall in the nation for identity theft. Florida’s percentage of identity theft complaints is 86 percent higher than the second state: Georgia.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — According to the latest reports from the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network report and Equifax’s Identity Protection.com, Florida ranks No. 1 for identity theft among the 50 states, with 361.3 complaints per 100,000 people.
With a high percentage of retirees and elderly among the general population, Brevard County and the state of Florida remain a top target for identity thieves. The report defines Brevard as the Melbourne-Palm Bay-Titusville area, which ranks 14th among identity theft in metropolitan areas.
Other Florida cities and metro areas in the top 20 include Homosassa Springs (2), Jacksonville metropolitan area (11) , Crestview – Fort Walton Beach- Destin metropolitan area (13), Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg – Clearwater metropolitan area (18), Orlando – Kissimmee – St. Cloud metropolitan area (20).
Accrording to Equifax, Miami is currently the leading city for identity theft, with 645.4 complaints per 100,000 people. The Sunshine’s ratio is 86 percent more than the second state: Georgia. Below, you’ll see the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Report which covers all complaints from 2012.
