You may think that living in Montana and our lack of technology in more remote areas of the state makes us more immune to identity theft threats.

But how true is that statement?

Find Out Below👇

In recent times, there's been a surge in data breaches compromising the personal information of many Americans.

Last year, U.S. consumers reported a 30% increase in fraud-related losses, reaching almost $8.8 million nationwide.

12 Signs That You Could Be a Victim of Identity Theft👇

The MOVEit file transfer platform breach this year impacted over 2,600 organizations and more than 83 million individuals globally, with the affected list growing.

This breach affected various sectors, including finance, professional services, and education.

Despite evolving strategies by identity thieves, older scams like tech support and fake IRS calls persist.

WalletHub analyzed 14 key metrics across the 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify vulnerability to identity theft and fraud.

Factors ranged from identity theft complaints per capita to average fraud-related losses.

The evaluation centered on three dimensions

Identity Theft, Fraud, and Policy.

Using a 100-point scale for each metric (with 100 being the most vulnerable), WalletHub assessed these dimensions.

By calculating a weighted average across all metrics for each state and the District, they ranked vulnerability across the sample.

Source: WalletHub

Montana’s Vulnerability to Identity Theft & Fraud

(1=Most Vulnerable; 25=Avg)

Overall rank for Montana: 47th

  • 44th – Identity-Theft Complaints per Capita
  • 47th – Avg. Loss Amount Due to Online Identity Theft
  • 39th – Fraud & Other Complaints per Capita
  • 28th – Median Loss Amount Due to Fraud
  • 41st – Identity-Theft Passport Program
  • 48th – Persons Arrested for Fraud per Capita

12 Signs That You Could Be a Victim of Identity Theft

Identity theft can happen so quickly, and potentially take so long to resolve. Keep an eye out for these 12 warning signs and maybe you can limit the damage done to your credit and your life.

Gallery Credit: Cindy Campbell

Protecting Your Child's Privacy and Identity - Tips for Parents

Under New York State’s Education Law, if you are a parent of a child in the New York State schools, you have rights regarding the privacy and security of your child’s personal information and data. Here are some ways that you can protect your child.

Great Falls & Cascade County December 2023 Most Wanted

Become a Tipster today with Crimestoppers.

Gallery Credit: Bejay Lindseth

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