Data breaches have become more common, and as a result, consumers are left to wonder how much of their sensitive information has been exposed.
A recent survey by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) found that 81% of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about the ability of businesses to safeguard their financial and personal information, while 40% are extremely or very concerned.
A telephone survey conducted by The Harris Poll for AICPA of 1,006 Americans in the fall of 2017 found that nearly half of U.S. adults (48%) think it is at least somewhat likely identity theft will cause them financial loss in the next year.
Related: Insurance and corporate vigilance against cyber breaches: 5 steps to take
Scams can strike in a number of ways
The survey found that three in five U.S. adults report that they or an immediate family member have been the victim of a scheme to defraud them. Attempts to defraud them ranged from someone impersonating the IRS (34%) to solicitations for donations for a fraudulent disaster relief charity (18%), among others. "Protecting your information is an ongoing process that requires you to be vigilant, identify where you can improve and take action to firm up your safeguards," said Gregory Anton, chair of the AICPA's National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, in a statement. "Identify theft may seem like it's inevitable, but our message is that it doesn't have to be." Cyber threats are only likely to grow in malice going forward, so consumers will need to advance their cybersecurity practices. The five tips above from AICPA are designed to help prevent and mitigate the effects of identity theft. Related: How to fend off identity theft during tax season
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