Victim-Reporting of Instrumental Identity Theft to Law Enforcement in the United States: An Analysis of the Impact of Immigration Status of Victims

Abstract

This study explores the differences in reporting of instrumental identity theft to law enforcement among United States (US)-born White, non-Hispanic (NH), US-born racial/ethnic minority, and immigrant victims. Data from the 2021 National Crime Victimization Survey Identity Theft Supplement were used to complete descriptive and logistic regression analyses. Reporting of instrumental identity theft to law enforcement was least frequent among immigrant victims and most frequent among US-born racial/ethnic minority victims. Immigrant victims of instrumental identity theft were significantly less likely than US-born racial/ethnic minority victims to report their victimization to law enforcement. The most common reason for victims among all immigration groups to not report their instrumental identity theft victimization to law enforcement was another organization taking care of the issue. The percentage of victims who did not think about reporting their victimization to law enforcement was significantly higher among immigrant victims of instrumental identity theft and significantly lower among US-born White, NH victims. Implications of these findings are discussed.