The number of identity fraud victims in the United States rose in 2008, bucking a trend from earlier years, according to Javelin Strategy and Research.
Javelin said its October survey of 4,800 American adults concluded there were 10 million victims of identity fraud, nearly 24% more than in 2007.
Of the 35% of respondents who knew how their information was exposed, 43% said it was because their wallet was lost or stolen.
Just 11% said their information was exposed in a data breach, 19% said it was stolen during a transaction, and 13% said it was stolen by someone they knew. Eleven percent said their data was stolen online, and the remainder said it was stolen through the mail or other means.
Javelin, of Pleasanton, Calif., published the report Monday.
