Most Americans are afraid of credit card hacking

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The crime most Americans are worried about is credit card hacking, a Gallup poll found.

In fact, 69 percent of Americans are frequently or occasionally worried that their credit card information will be stolen, especially after so many large retailers like Target were hit last year. Credit card hacking may be such a huge worry right now, because 27 percent of Americans say they or another household member had their information stolen by computer hackers during the last year, according to Gallup.

Upper-income Americans, those whose household incomes are $75,000 or more a year, are more likely than lower-income Americans to worry frequently or occasionally about hacking of their credit card information, 85% to 50%. Americans between the ages of 30 and 64 worry about this more than younger and older Americans do.

This may be because many lower-income Americans are less likely to own credit cards, Gallup says.

Fears over hacking may also affect customers’ shopping habits this holiday season. Consumers may avoid stores that have been previously hacked, and credit cards will have to compensate with better security. Gallup reports some credit card companies are switching to security strips instead of magnetic strips currently on most credit cards.