Fewer Identity Theft Victims Are Cited in New U.S. Study

An estimated 3.6 million U.S. households -- or about three out of every 100 -- reported being victims of identity theft, according to a government study that counted misuse of someone else's cellphone, credit card or personal information.

The figures released yesterday by the Justice Department differ from findings of a previous government study that counted 9.3 million victims of the crime.

Of the 3.6 million victimized households, the study said, an estimated 1.7 million discovered unauthorized use of credit cards during the six-month period.

About 540,000 households said someone had misused personal information of a person in the home to open new accounts, get loans or commit other crimes. This is what the financial services industry more often defines as identity theft.