Understanding Consumer Identity Theft Risks Across Communications Media

A range of small images representing the types of identity theft, who is targeted and what happens

Australian National University, Research School of Management

In partnership with IDCare, and the University of the Sunshine Coast, Centre for Human Factors & Sociotechnical Systems.

Grant round: 2016

Amount: $44,965.50

One in five Australians have been victims of identity theft and this number continues to grow. Unfortunately, there is little empirical analysis of how communications use affects identity theft risk across the range of communications media. Consumers hence lack an evidence-based understanding of potential risks and effective safeguards.

This research project fills this gap. It has analysed anonymised identity theft case files to understand victim experiences. Consumer-oriented infographics have been developed to help prevent ID theft, plus a series of interventions that can be applied directly to victim risk assessments. These interventions and recommendations for communications providers are available in the reports below.