azcentral.com
Identity thieves in metropolitan Phoenix are particularly nasty. The impostors tend to run up higher tabs than their counterparts in other areas and do more collateral damage to their victims' credit.
A study by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. found that the average Valley ID thief ran up $5,063 in charges, or over $1,000 more than the overall average of $3,968.
Phoenix victims also suffered more indirect financial damage than others. The study found that Phoenix residents were hit by an average $3,149 in peripheral costs such as legal fees and lost wages. That was more than five times the overall average of $587.
Posted by katie at July 30, 2005