Looks like identity thefts are heading downwards. In fact, it went down as much as 11.5% in 2006. Looks like identities are a bit overrated. I wonder what crooks are stealing now though…

The average identity theft fraud fell 9 percent to $5,720 from $6,278, while the median–where half were larger and half were smaller–held steady at $750.

“Businesses are doing a better job screening, and consumers are doing better at locking up information and monitoring their accounts,” James Van Dyke, founder and president of Pleasanton, Calif.-based Javelin, said in an interview.

“The dollar amount is dropping,” he added, “but $49 billion is still a lot of money.”

Source: CNET News