Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to: (a) expand the knowledge of the crime of identity theft, (b) explore crimes of identity theft, and (c) collect and analyze empirical data on conditions related to victimization to determine if those conditions are shared by victims that place them at a higher risk for identity theft. As a result of this study, public administrators, in their role as guardians, will have foundational information to better understand the crime of identity theft and will have empirical data on victimization that can be used to more effectively allocate resources to reduce the crime, educate citizens, and develop policies and procedures to protect the person& information of their own employees and the citizens to whom they are responsible. Theoretical framework. The theoretical framework evolved from criminology, victimology, and other theories into Routine Activity Theory, with a transformational focus on victims and guardianship and the role of public administrators specific to protecting personal information. Methodology. This is a study of the crime of identity theft that correlates 2005 secondary data and the reported crimes of identity theft by state to determine if the six conditions shared by victims placed them at a higher risk for identity theft. The conditions are: gender, age, per capita income, number of individuals residing in a residence, population changes, and individuals per square mile. The statistical methods that are used in this study include both Pearson's r and regression analysis. Findings. Six independent variables were studied with three having significant positive correlations that indicate a person is more likely to become a victim of identity theft: gender, per capita income, and number of individuals residing in a residence. One condition, age, shows a significant negative correlation and two independent variables, population changes and individuals per square mile, indicted no correlation to an individual becoming a victim of the crime of identity theft. Conclusions and recommendations. The findings support that there are conditions shared by individuals that place them at a higher risk for identity theft. While the crime is not new, technology has provided a new vehicle to commit the crime, thus changing some of the trends of victimization. Further research is recommended on the legal obligations of public administrators in protecting personal information and educating their citizenry, the addition of a new Uniform Crime Code definition specific to identity theft, distinguished by "new accounts" be obtained in a victims name. Also, it is recommended that additional conditions be studied in an effort to build a taxonomy of vulnerabilities that have resulted in individuals becoming more likely to become victims of identity theft.