The recent AT&T data breach that affected nearly 86 million customer accounts, including over 44 million Social Security numbers, was a striking reminder of the scope of identity theft in this country.
Based on data compiled by financial data website WalletHub, New Jersey is the fourth-most vulnerable state in the nation. WalletHub disclosed its results Dec. 3 in its report “2025’s States Most Vulnerable to Identity Theft & Fraud.”
“In an age where we have sensitive data online in a multitude of places, we risk falling victim to identity theft and fraud whenever there’s a data breach,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.
“Living in a state with robust legal protections against identity theft and fraud, such as identity theft passports and cybersecurity task forces, can decrease your risk of falling victim to these crimes, though staying vigilant and protecting yourself online is still the most important.”
To determine where Americans are most susceptible to fraud and identity theft, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key metrics. The data set ranges from identity theft complaints per capita to the average loss amount due to fraud.
Based on ranking of 1 as most vulnerable and 25 as the average, New Jersey was most vulnerable in three categories: average loss amount due to online identity theft; state security-freeze laws for minors’ credit report; and identity-theft passport program.
