Study: Arizona ranks as the ninth-most common state in the nation for identity theft complaints

Arizona is the ninth-most common state in the nation for identity theft complaints, according to 24/7WallSt.com.

Last year in the state there were 6,460 complaints of identity theft, or 96 per 100,000 residents. The average cost of each paid complaint was $2,581.

In Arizona, there are several ways to steal someone’s identity, with the most common practice being the use of government documents or benefits fraud at 31 percent.

Arizona passed a law in 2008 that classified seeking employment without documentation as identity theft in order to track illegal immigrants. The law came under attack earlier this year after several immigrant advocate groups sued the state after finding the law may conflict with federal statutes.

Florida, Washington, Oregon, Missouri and Georgia rounded out the top five states with the most identity theft complaints, each with over 100 complaints per 100,000 residents.