Identity Theft Reports Topped 1.3 Million in 2025, Fueling Demand for Monitoring Services

The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.3 million reports of identity theft in 2025, underscoring how common the problem has become for American consumers.

As those numbers climb, more people are turning to identity theft monitoring services to keep tabs on their personal and financial information. These services scan for signs that someone may be misusing a person’s identity, including unauthorized use of a Social Security number to open an account or apply for a loan, and instances where personal data turns up on the dark web.

One such service, LifeLock, illustrates how these programs typically work and what they cost. The company offers three subscription tiers, with prices starting at $10.42 per month when billed annually.

How the monitoring works

All three LifeLock plans include identity and Social Security number monitoring, dark web monitoring, and alerts meant to flag potentially suspicious activity. Some plans add credit monitoring across multiple credit bureaus, while higher-tier plans also track activity related to payday loans, utility accounts and social media accounts. If a customer’s information is compromised, a scam assistant is available to offer guidance and answer questions about cyber safety.

Coverage limits vary by plan, with some offering up to $3 million in identity theft coverage. The two higher-tier LifeLock plans also include up to $10,000 in reimbursement for eligible losses tied to scams.

Plan breakdown

LifeLock’s pricing, based on annual billing, breaks down as follows:

• Core: $10.42 per month. Includes identity monitoring, bank and credit alerts for up to two accounts, monitoring from two credit bureaus, and up to $1.05 million in identity theft coverage.
• Advanced: $16.67 per month. Expands bank alerts to five accounts, monitors all three credit bureaus, and includes up to $1.2 million in identity theft coverage plus $5,000 in scam reimbursement.
• Total: $29.17 per month. Adds home title and investment account monitoring, along with up to $3 million in identity theft coverage and $10,000 in scam reimbursement.

Across all tiers, paying annually rather than monthly reduces the cost by 16%.

Services like these are one tool consumers can use to catch potential misuse of their information earlier, though they do not prevent identity theft from occurring in the first place. Given the scale of reports the FTC logged this year, financial experts generally recommend that consumers regularly check their credit reports and bank statements regardless of whether they use a paid monitoring service.