WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says 1 in 14 Americans fell prey to identity theft last year.

It's a crime that takes a heavy emotional toll on many of its victims.

A national household survey of 70,000 people shows identity theft resulted in nearly $25 billion in losses last year.

For many victims, the size of the loss was eclipsed by concerns that someone had stolen their identity and that it might take weeks or months to repair the damage.

Among victims who spent six months or more resolving financial and credit problems stemming from identity theft, 47 percent experienced severe emotional distress.


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