The study's results were released this morning.

ID Analytics, Inc. conducted the first research based on actual and attempted frauds rather than on consumer victim reports.

New York and the western states of California, Nevada and Arizona had the highest identity fraud rankings.

The analytical research also shows that the highest metropolitan area rates of identity fraud are in New York, while the states with the lowest rates of identity fraud are Wyoming, Vermont and Montana.

The 10 states with the highest rates of identity fraud:

1. New York

2. California

3. Nevada

4. Arizona

5. Illinois

6. Hawai'i

7. Oregon

8. Michigan

9. Washington

10. Texas

By analyzing data from its ID Network(TM), a third-party identity fraud prevention system, ID Analytics gained an understanding of the nature of identity fraud.

The ID Network uses 3 billion identity elements — including names, addresses, Social Security numbers and phone numbers — which are contributed in real time, by organizations spanning multiple industries, for the sole purpose of preventing identity fraud.

Analytics applied against data in the ID Network enable ID Analytics to examine how identities behave across organizations. Further statistical analysis enables ID Analytics to determine where identity fraud is most common.

The 10 states with the lowest rates of identity fraud:

1. Wyoming

2. Vermont

3. Montana

4. North Dakota

5. New Hampshire

6. Ohio

7. Maine

8. Iowa

9. West Virginia