Chester County is among the Top 10 counties in the state for identity theft cases over the past five years, according to a new report from the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.

Identity theft is the fraudulent use of another person’s identifying information. Thieves surreptitiously gain social security numbers or bank account information and use them to steal funds, merchandise, and more.

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to this crime. In response, Pennsylvania amended its identity theft laws in 2013. It increased the severity of offenses in situations in which victims are over age 60.

Chester County accounted for seven percent of overall cases. That rate landed it in fourth place in Pennsylvania — a ranking shared by Delaware and Bucks counties.

Montgomery County residents need to be even warier than we do. It took the top spot, with 18 percent of cases.

On the positive side, the number of fake identity cases has gradually decreased, year over year, both locally and statewide.

Overall cases in Pennsylvania dropped from 1,523 in 2019 to 1,142 last year.

However, only 26 percent of forged identity cases in the past five years have resulted in a conviction or an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition.

According to the report, most falsified identity offenders are male (59 percent) and between ages 26 and 35 (37 percent).

Read the entire report at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.