To Shred or Not to Shred: Victims’ Decisions to Engage in Protective Behaviors Following Identity Theft Victimization

Despite a growing body of research identifying several self-protective behaviors against identity theft victimization, it remains less clear what factors contribute to the adoption of these self-protective behaviors—potentially undermining the efficacy of policies aiming to promote these behaviors. Using data from the 2021 National Crime Victimization Survey Identity Theft Supplement ( n = 1,593), multivariate findings suggest that indicators of seriousness were associated with the decision to adopt self-protective behaviors, while distress was associated with certain self-protective behaviors. Moreover, findings suggested that income was positively associated with the odds of adopting certain self-protective behaviors, suggesting that financial barriers to self-protection against identity theft may exist. Findings are discussed in light of areas for future research as well as policy implications.