Identity Theft Among Older Adults: Risk and Protective Factors

Abstract Although financial exploitation and fraud targeting older adults have been the focus of increasing academic attention, research on identity theft among older adults is virtually nonexistent. Identity theft refers to an intentional, unauthorized transfer or use of a person’s identifying information for unlawful purposes (Federal Trade Commission 1998). Society’s growing reliance on technology to transfer and store private information has created increased opportunities for financial predators to access and misuse personal data. Results from the most recent Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Identity Theft Supplement show that nearly 1 in 10 adults aged 65 or older experienced identity theft in the past year, with financial losses totaling $2.5 billion. Given the high frequency and cost of identity theft among older Americans, more research is needed to guide prevention efforts and interventions that support recovery. This paper examines the risk factors, protective factors, costs, and consequences of identity theft victimization among older adults, focusing on differences between those aged 65-74 and those 75 or older. Findings suggest that the prevalence of identity theft is lower among those 75 or older (6.6% versus 10.3%), but those 75 or older experienced higher average losses per identity theft incident ($155 vs $96). Compared to those aged 65-74, a lower percentage of adults aged 75 or older engaged in online shopping, thereby reducing their risk of identity exposure (48% versus 24%). However, they were also less likely to engage in protective behaviors such as checking credit reports, changing passwords, checking account statements, and using security software.

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The financial and psychological impact of identity theft among older adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab043 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marguerite DeLiema ◽

David Burnes ◽

Lynn Langton

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Private Information ◽

Personal Data ◽

Positive Association ◽

Identity Theft ◽

Crime Victimization ◽

Poverty Level ◽

Time Information ◽

Out Of Pocket Costs

Abstract Background and Objectives Society’s growing reliance on technology to transfer private information has created more opportunities for identity thieves to access and misuse personal data. Research on identity theft specifically among adults age 65 and older is virtually nonexistent, yet research focusing on victims of all ages indicates a positive association between age, minority status, and more severe economic and psychological consequences. Research Design and Methods Identity theft measures come from a sample of more than 2,000 self-reported victims age 65 and older from the nationally representative National Crime Victimization Survey Identity Theft Supplements administered in 2014 and 2016. Regression was used to examine how socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and incident-specific factors relate to how much money is stolen, the likelihood of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, and emotional distress among older identity theft victims. Results Older Black identity theft victims were more likely to have greater amounts of money stolen and were more likely feel distressed by the incident than older White victims. The most disadvantaged older adults living at or below the federal poverty level were significantly more likely to suffer out-of-pocket costs. The length of time information was misused, experiencing subsequent financial problems and problems with friends/family, and the hours spent resolving identity theft were positively associated with emotional distress. Among those age 65 and older, age was not significantly associated with losses or emotional distress. Discussion and Implications Older adults living in poverty need more resources to assist with recovery and reporting identity theft to law enforcement. Limiting the extent of losses from identity theft and reducing the length of time information is misused may reduce the emotional toll of identity theft on older victims.

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Identity Theft and Older Adults: How Minorities and the Poor Suffer the Worst Consequences

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 324-324

Author(s):

Marguerite DeLiema ◽

David Burnes ◽

Lynn Langton

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Emotional Distress ◽

Private Information ◽

Personal Information ◽

Personal Data ◽

Identity Theft ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Crime Victimization ◽

Poverty Level ◽

Out Of Pocket Costs

Abstract Society’s growing reliance on technology to transfer and store private information has created more opportunities for identity thieves to access personal data. Prior work using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Identity Theft Supplement (ITS) showed that baby boomers were significantly more likely than Millennials to be victims of identity theft and that older people and minorities experience more severe economic and psychological consequences. This study examines how socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and incident-specific factors relate to how much money is stolen during identity theft, the likelihood of experiencing out-of-pocket costs, and emotional distress among identity theft victims age 65 and older. Using combined data from the 2014 and 2016 NCVS-ITS, this study examines the correlates of financial and psychological consequences of identity theft among 2,307 victims age 65 and older. Older Black victims are more likely to have greater amounts of money stolen and are more likely feel distressed than older non-Latino white identity theft victims. The most disadvantaged older adults living at or below the federal poverty level are nearly five times as likely to suffer out-of-pocket costs. The length of time information is misused and the hours spent resolving identity theft are significantly associated with emotional distress. More than one-third of older victims experience moderate to severe emotional distress following identity theft, and those who can least afford it suffer out-of-pocket costs. Greater advocacy and psychological support are needed to help older adults recover, in addition to tools to protect their personal information from misuse.

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Food and Nutrient Intake and Diet Quality among Older Americans

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3381 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 921-921

Author(s):

Yeon Jin Choi ◽

Eileen Crimmins ◽

Jung Ki Kim ◽

Jennifer Ailshire

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Risk And Protective Factors ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Nutritional Deficiencies ◽

Food Groups ◽

Older Americans ◽

Quality Diet

Abstract A suboptimal diet and nutritional deficiencies can have important influences on health with significant impact among older adults. This study aims to assess the presence of suboptimal dietary intake among older Americans and identify risk and protective factors influencing diet quality. For this study, data from a nationally representative sample of 5,614 community-dwelling older adults over age 54 in the Health and Retirement Study – Health Care and Nutrition Survey were used. Descriptive analyses were conducted to assess average intake of 17 food groups and nutrients and the percentage of respondents who consumed an optimal amount of food and nutrients. Differences in diet quality by sociodemographic, psychosocial, environmental, and geographic factors were assessed using chi-square and OLS regression was used to identify risk and protective factors for good quality diet. Overall, only 10.7% of respondents had a good quality diet (HEI score 81 and above); the majority had diets considered poor or needing improvement. Less than 50% of respondents met dietary guidelines and nutritional goals for most individual food groups and nutrients. Respondents with low socioeconomic status, fewer psychosocial resources, and those who had limited access to healthy food outlets were more likely to have a diet of suboptimal quality. Efforts to remove identified barriers that put older adults at risk for poor nutrition and to provide resources that increase access to healthy food should be made to encourage healthy eating and enhance diet quality.

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Fraud and Identity Theft Issues

Strategic and Practical Approaches for Information Security Governance ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-0197-0.ch014 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 245-260

Author(s):

Ranaganayakulu Dhanalakshmi ◽

Chenniappan Chellappan

Keyword(s):

Social Security ◽

Private Information ◽

Credit Card ◽

Personal Information ◽

Personal Data ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Identity Theft ◽

Phishing Attacks ◽

E Mail ◽

Cross Site

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain. In spite of the different possible attacks discussed in later chapters, this chapter can focus on phishing attacks – a form of indirect attacks– such as an act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit a Web site where they are asked to update personal information, such as passwords and credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, that the legitimate organization already has. Phishing attacks use ‘spoofed’ e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, et cetera. The vulnerabilities on various phishing methods such as domain name spoofing, URL obfuscation, susceptive e-mails, spoofed DNS and IP addresses, and cross site scripting are analyzed, and the chapter concludes that an integrated approach is required to mitigate phishing attacks.

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Resource loss and mental health during COVID ‐19: Psychosocial protective factors among U.S. older adults and those with chronic disease

International Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1002/ijop.12798 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Stacey E. McElroy‐Heltzel ◽

Laura R. Shannonhouse ◽

Edward B. Davis ◽

Austin W. Lemke ◽

Mary Chase Mize ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Resource Loss

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Educational Differences in Self-Rated Health Trends Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living Alone, 1972–2018

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/08982643211052718 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 089826432110527

Author(s):

Esther O. Lamidi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Living Arrangement ◽

Living Alone ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Older Americans ◽

Health Trends ◽

Self Rated Health ◽

Educational Differences ◽

Middle Aged Adults

Objectives: This study examines educational differences in living alone and in self-rated health trends among middle-aged and older adults. Methods: We used logistic regression to analyze data from the 1972–2018 National Health Interview Survey ( n = 795,239 aged 40–64; n = 357,974 aged 65–84). Results: Between 1972–1974 and 2015–2018, living alone became more prevalent, particularly among men and at lower levels of education. Self-rated health trends varied by living arrangement and education. We found self-rated health declines among middle-aged adults having no college degree and living alone, but trends in self-rated health were mostly stable or even improved among middle-aged adults living with others. Among older adults, self-rated health improved over time, but for the least-educated older Americans living alone, the probability of reporting fair or poor health increased between 1972–1974 and 2015–2018. Discussion: The findings suggest growing disparities by social class, in living arrangements and in self-rated health.

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Relationships among dispositional coping strategies, suicidal ideation, and protective factors against suicide in older adults

Aging & Mental Health ◽

10.1080/13607863.2010.501068 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (8) ◽

pp. 1015-1023 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Meghan A. Marty ◽

Daniel L. Segal ◽

Frederick L. Coolidge

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Dispositional Coping

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Foot Problems in Older Adults

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association ◽

10.7547/15-186 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 108 (2) ◽

pp. 126-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Amy Muchna ◽

Bijan Najafi ◽

Christopher S. Wendel ◽

Michael Schwenk ◽

David G. Armstrong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Motor Performance ◽

Fear Of Falling ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Lower Percentage ◽

Wearable Sensor ◽

Eyes Open ◽

Foot Problems

Background:Research on foot problems and frailty is sparse and could advance using wearable sensor–based measures of gait, balance, and physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of foot problems on the likelihood of falls, frailty syndrome, motor performance, and PA in community-dwelling older adults.Methods:Arizona Frailty Cohort Study participants (community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years without baseline cognitive deficit, severe movement disorders, or recent stroke) underwent Fried frailty and foot assessment. Gait, balance (bipedal eyes open and eyes closed), and spontaneous PA over 48 hours were measured using validated wearable sensor technologies.Results:Of 117 participants, 41 (35%) were nonfrail, 56 (48%) prefrail, and 20 (17%) frail. Prevalence of foot problems (pain, peripheral neuropathy, or deformity) increased significantly as frailty category worsened (any problem: 63% in nonfrail, 80% in prefrail [odds ratio (OR) = 2.0], and 95% in frail [OR = 8.3]; P = .03 for trend) due to associations between foot problems and both weakness and exhaustion. Foot problems were associated with fear of falling but not with fall history or incident falls over 6 months. Foot pain and peripheral neuropathy were associated with lower gait speed and stride length; increased double support time; increased mediolateral sway of center of mass during walking, age adjusted; decreased eyes open sway of center of mass and ankle during quiet standing, age adjusted; and lower percentage walking, percentage standing, and total steps per day.Conclusions:Foot problems were associated with frailty level and decreased motor performance and PA. Wearable technology is a practical way to screen for deterioration in gait, balance, and PA that may be associated with foot problems. Routine assessment and management of foot problems could promote earlier intervention to retain motor performance and manage fear of falling in older adults, which may ultimately improve healthy aging and reduce risk of frailty.

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