Key Takeaways

Fraud and cybercrime related to identity theft have surged without a reliable digital identity infrastructure, causing massive financial losses for individuals, businesses, and governments. Building secure and interoperable systems reduces fraud while unlocking economic efficiency. This section outlines the scope of the problem and how stronger identity solutions can mitigate costs.

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Why Fraud is So Costly

The lack of a trusted digital identity layer means online interactions often depend on outdated, manual methods of proving who someone is. Paper IDs scanned into a computer, passwords reused across dozens of accounts, and databases filled with sensitive information all create weaknesses that fraudsters exploit.

In 2024 alone, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that scammers stole a record $16.6 billion, a stark 33% increase from the previous year. The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network reported that consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% rise compared to 2023. Common cases involve imposter scams, where criminals pose as trusted institutions or individuals to steal money or information.

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Fraud in Public Benefits

Fraud also undermines public programs. The US Department of Labor’s Inspector General found that of the $872.5 billion in pandemic unemployment insurance funding, at least $163 billion was paid improperly, a large portion of which was attributed to fraudulent claims. Without strong ways to confirm identity online, governments must rely on weaker verification methods that make programs vulnerable to abuse.

The impact is not just financial. Fraudulent use of benefits delays access for people who truly need assistance. It also reduces trust in public systems, making it harder for governments to roll out digital-first services in the future.

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Business Risks and Data Breaches

Businesses face the same issue. Without a universal way to verify identity, they often store customer information themselves in siloed systems. This creates centralized honeypots of sensitive personal data that attackers actively target.

According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average breach costs US companies $10.22 million, more than double the global average of $4.35 million. For very large incidents involving 50 to 60 million records, costs can reach $387 million. These figures include direct expenses like investigation and notification in addition to lost revenue, reputational damage, and higher compliance costs.

Data breaches also place new pressure on businesses to meet regulations. Many purchase liability insurance and implement costly compliance programs to handle customer data safely. For smaller companies and startups, these costs can be prohibitive, limiting innovation.

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The Role of Digital Identity

A trustworthy digital identity system reduces these risks. By shifting verification from paper-based processes to secure, cryptographically signed verifiable digital credentials, organizations can confirm identity without storing unnecessary personal information.

With interoperable identity solutions, banks, employers, or government agencies can verify facts such as age, residency, or licensing status without holding full datasets. This reduces breach risk and supports identity theft prevention by limiting exposure of sensitive information.

For example:

• An airline could verify a passenger’s identity with a mobile ID without storing a scan of their passport.
• A government agency could confirm eligibility for unemployment benefits instantly, reducing fraud attempts.
• A business could authenticate a customer with strong identity verification software, avoiding reliance on weak passwords.

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Economic Upside

The opportunity is not just in cost savings but in growth. A secure digital identity infrastructure makes services faster, safer, more convenient, and trustworthy. Financial services can onboard customers more efficiently. Healthcare providers can access verified patient information without slow paperwork. Governments can deliver digital services more reliably, cutting administrative overhead.

International organizations emphasize that trusted digital identity is also critical for inclusion. People who lack traditional paper documents often struggle to access essential services. Verifiable digital credentials expand access to vulnerable populations while protecting privacy through selective disclosure and secure design.

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Conclusion

Identity-related fraud is one of the most expensive challenges in today’s digital economy. Individuals bear the cost in stolen funds and damaged credit. Businesses face multimillion-dollar breach expenses. Governments lose billions to fraudulent claims. Strong, interoperable digital identity solutions built on security and privacy principles are not just a safeguard against fraud; they are a foundation for innovation, trust, and long-term growth.