How to Avoid Data Breach

Identity theft is a growing problem across the United States, and Florida continues to lead the charts. A recent study highlights the high risk faced by residents of the Sunshine State, particularly in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area. For the first half of 2024, this metropolitan area reported 259 identity theft cases per 100,000 residents, earning it the ninth-highest ranking among U.S. metros. The trend is a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against cybercrimes and fraud.

 

Florida Tops the Nation in Identity Theft 

According to a LendingTree study, Florida had the highest identity theft rate in the country as of the second quarter of 2024, with 138 reports per 100,000 residents. Factors behind this trend include the state’s large elderly population, who are often targeted due to their higher savings, good credit scores, and trusting nature. 

Florida’s major metros, including Cape Coral, Miami, and Orlando, have all seen increases in identity theft cases. Miami stands out as one of the hardest-hit regions with 235 cases per 100,000 residents—the highest rate of any U.S. metro in Q2 2024. For Orlando, a rate of 143 reports per 100,000 residents marks it as one of the state’s most vulnerable areas. 

 

The Surge of Fraud Types 

The study revealed that many types of identity theft are on the rise. The most significant increases included online shopping and payment fraud, social media theft, and email phishing scams. Reports listed “other identity theft” (frauds not attributed to tax, credit card, or bank account theft) as having jumped by 19.2% from the first to the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, loan or lease fraud and credit card fraud also increased by 8.9% and 7.0%, respectively, during the same time period. 

Even with these surges, some more traditional forms of fraud, like phone account scams, are on the decline. However, the overall upward trend is alarming and calls for proactive measures to protect personal information from being misused. 

 

Identity Theft in the Orlando Metro Area 

For residents of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metropolitan region, the threat is very real. With the ninth-highest rate of ID theft among metro areas in the U.S. during early 2024, the data underscores the necessity of safeguarding personal and financial information. 

Why Orlando? The area’s growing population, thriving economy, and adoption of digital services have been attractive to con artists seeking to exploit vulnerabilities. What’s more, e-commerce and online banking continue to expand in this metro area, providing opportunities for hackers and fraudsters to strike. 

 

How Proshred Orlando Can Help 

Preventing identity theft begins with secure handling of sensitive information, and that’s where Proshred Orlando comes in. By providing reliable, on-site destruction services for confidential documents and electronic data, Proshred is a valuable partner in the fight against ID theft. 

  • Document Shredding: Whether it’s a one-time purge or ongoing shredding service, Proshred ensures that sensitive paper materials are destroyed on-site using mobile shredding trucks. This eliminates the risk of critical information falling into the wrong hands. 
  • Hard Drive Destruction: Protect yourself from digital data breaches with Proshred’s secure destruction of hard drives. Their expert technicians handle this process on-site, giving you peace of mind that no information can be recovered. 
  • Residential Services: Identity theft doesn’t just target businesses. Proshred offers residential shredding services to protect households from fraud due to improper disposal of bank statements, tax documents, or other personal records. 
  • Local Expertise, No Hidden Fees: Operating locally from Orlando, Proshred provides responsive, community-focused services with straightforward pricing. There are no hidden fees or trip charges to worry about. 

By turning to Proshred Orlando for secure shredding and destruction services, individuals and businesses in the Orlando metro area can take a proactive step in reducing their risk of identity theft. Handling confidential information with care isn’t an option—it’s a necessity. Stay vigilant and ensure your sensitive data is destroyed properly with the help of Proshred’s trusted solutions. 

 For more information on how Proshred Orlando can help protect you, contact their team today.