– New data shows identity theft is no longer a one-time event but a catalyst for long-term financial damage, including collections, charge-offs and credit score declines –

TEMECULA, Calif. — July 7, 2026 — IdentityIQ, one of the nation’s leading providers of identity theft protection and credit monitoring services, today released its 2025 Fraud Report: The Surge in Credit-Based Fraud and What to Expect This Year, revealing a dramatic increase in identity-related fraud and warning that artificial intelligence is accelerating both the speed and sophistication of attacks.

According to proprietary IdentityIQ data, alerts tied to potentially fraudulent new accounts increased 65% in 2025 compared to 2024, signaling a significant rise in criminals using stolen and synthetic identities to open credit cards, loans and other financial accounts.

The report also found that the damage often extends far beyond the initial fraud event:

• Major derogatory credit events increased 39%
• Derogatory trade lines increased 32%
• More consumers are experiencing collections, defaults, charge-offs, and long-term credit damage linked to undetected fraudulent accounts.

The findings come as federal authorities warn that artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the fraud landscape. The FBI reported more than 22,000 AI-related fraud complaints in 2025, resulting in nearly $893 million in losses, marking the first time the agency formally tracked AI-enabled scams. AI-powered fraud schemes now include voice cloning, deepfakes, highly personalized phishing attacks and synthetic identity creation.

"Identity fraud has entered a new era," said Michael Scheumack, Chief Innovation Officer at IdentityIQ. "What we're seeing is a shift from isolated incidents to highly automated, AI-enhanced fraud campaigns that can create damage before a consumer even realizes their information has been compromised. A fraudulent account opened today can quickly turn into collections, charge-offs, and years of credit repair. The real story isn't just that fraud is increasing, it's that the consequences are becoming more severe and longer lasting."

Three Emerging Trends Defining Fraud in 2026

1. Synthetic Identities Are Going Mainstream

Fraudsters are increasingly combining legitimate Social Security numbers and personal data with fabricated information to create synthetic identities that appear legitimate to lenders and financial institutions. These synthetic profiles can be used to establish credit histories before being exploited for large-scale fraud.

2. AI Is Making Fraud More Convincing

Deepfake audio, cloned voices, AI-generated emails, and realistic fake websites are making traditional warning signs harder to recognize. Criminals can now personalize scams at a scale previously impossible, making fraud attempts appear more legitimate than ever.

3. Fraud Is Creating Long-Term Financial Harm

Identity theft is no longer just about unauthorized purchases. The IdentityIQ data shows increasing connections between fraudulent account openings and subsequent derogatory credit events, including collections and charge-offs that can remain on credit reports for years.

Why This Matters

The IdentityIQ report suggests that many consumers may still view identity theft as a short-term inconvenience when, in reality, it is increasingly becoming a long-term financial threat.

"Consumers often think the crime ends when a fraudulent account is discovered," Scheumack said. "But by that point, the damage may already be spreading through their credit profile. The biggest trend we're watching is the growing gap between when fraud occurs and when it's detected. In the age of AI, that gap can be incredibly costly."

Key Consumer Recommendations

IdentityIQ recommends consumers take proactive measures to protect themselves, including:

• Monitoring credit reports and account alerts regularly
• Freezing or locking credit files when possible
• Verifying unexpected communications through trusted channels
• Using multi-factor authentication and strong passwords
• Creating family verification codes to combat deepfake impersonation scams
• Enrolling in identity theft protection and credit monitoring services for early detection and recovery assistance

The full IdentityIQ 2025 Fraud Report is available now.

For more information on IdentityIQ, visit www.IdentityIQ.com.

About IdentityIQ

IdentityIQ®, offered by IDIQ®, is a leading provider of identity theft protection, credit monitoring and financial wellness solutions. IdentityIQ helps consumers monitor and protect their identities, credit and personal information through comprehensive monitoring, alerts and recovery support services.

Strategic alliance addresses critical gap for 44 million American renting households while creating new revenue and relationship opportunities for property managers

Temecula, CA, Sep. 17, 2025 – IDIQ®, a leading financial intelligence platform, today announced a strategic partnership with the National Consumer Reporting Association (NCRA) that will transform how millions of renters build credit.  Through NCRA’s network of member agencies and their property management clients, renters nationwide will gain access to rent payment reporting services that will turn their largest monthly expense into a credit-building opportunity.

The partnership addresses a fundamental inequity in the credit system:  while 44 million American households pay rent reliably each month, these payments traditionally provide no credit benefit, leaving renters at a disadvantage when seek loans, mortgages, or better interest rates.  

“This partnership between IDIQ and the NCRA solves a massive markets problem,” said Nikki Boehle, Senior Vice President, Multi-Family Channel, at IDIQ.  “Renters are already demonstrating financial responsibility through consistent rent payments. Now these payments will finally count toward building their credit history, opening doors to better financial opportunities such as access to loans and lower interest rates.”

Partnership Creates Triple Win Across Housing Ecosystem

The IDIQ-NCRA alliance delivers measurable benefits across the entire rental housing value chain:

For Renters:  Monthly rent payments are securely reported to all three major credit bureaus, helping establish or strengthen credit history without taking on additional debt. Early data shows renters typically see meaningful credit score increases within months of enrollment.

For Property Managers:  Rent payment reporting serves as a powerful differentiator in competitive markets while encouraging on-time payments and improving resident retention.  Properties offering credit-building amenities report higher renewal rates and reduced turnover costs.

For NCRA Member Screening Companies:  The partnership transforms one-time resident screening transactions into ongoing client relationships, creating new revenue streams while deepening property management partnerships.

Beyond Rent Reporting — Comprehensive Financial Wellness

This partnership extends beyond rent payment reporting to include IDIQ’s full financial intelligence suite.  NCRA membership will offer residents access to IdentityIQ® for robust identity theft protection and CreditBuilderIQ℠ for personalized credit-building action plans, creating a comprehensive financial wellness platform.

This holistic approach addresses the growing demand from both renters and property managers for value-added services that support long-term resident success and retention.

“NCRA members help open doors to housing for consumers through their tenant screening services. It makes sense that we can further help those consumers once they are in their apartments through the NCRA/IDIQ partnership,” said Eric J. Ellman, President of NCRA.

Addressing Market Demand for Credit Access

The partnership comes as housing costs continue rising and credit access remains challenging for many Americans. Traditional credit building methods often require taking on debt, making rent payment reporting an attractive alternative for the millions of Americans who prioritize responsible spending over borrowing.

The service integrates seamlessly into existing property management workflows, with flexible enrollment options and automated monthly reporting to all three major credit bureaus.

For more information, visit www.IDIQ.com.

About IDIQ
IDIQ® is recognized as one of the fastest-growing industry leaders in identity theft protection and credit report monitoring. The IDIQ flagship brand, IdentityIQ®, offers real-time fraud alerts and credit report information to both protect and educate consumers. Popular IDIQ brands also include MyScoreIQ® for financial health and protection; Credit & Debt®, a credit and debt education-based membership platform; and IDIQ® Pre-Paid Legal Services℠, a leading provider of voluntary employee benefits.

The CreditBuilderIQ℠ and CreditScoreIQ℠ brands for DIY credit-building innovative tools along with the all-in-one customer relationship management tool Disco℠ round out the IDIQ full suite of products.

About National Consumer Reporting Association (NCRA)
Founded in 1992, the National Consumer Reporting Association is a national trade organization representing consumer reporting agencies and associated professionals that provide products and services to hundreds of thousands of mortgage lenders and property managers, who utilize consumer reports in their housing decisions.

Media Contact:

Kristin Hudson‍

Cline Public Relations

kristin.hudson@clinepr.com

(951) 397-7595

Flagship IdentityIQ brand publishes report on rise of utility account fraud, student loan scams, and stolen personal documents along with rising AI threats

Temecula, California, April 3, 2025 – IDIQ®, a financial intelligence company, today released its latest Fraud Trends Report under its flagship IdentityIQ® brand, revealing alarming increases in utility account fraud, student loan scams, and stolen personal document cases over the past year.

The report, based on proprietary data, highlights an astounding 1,033% surge in utility account fraud, an almost 500% increase in student loan scams, and a 46% rise in personal document theft leading to identity theft in 2024. The report also predicts a sharp escalation in AI-driven fraud tactics, including deepfake scams, AI-powered phishing, and automated robo-scammers.

"The rapid evolution of fraud, especially with AI-enhanced scams, is a growing concern for consumers and businesses alike," said Scott Hermann, CEO of IDIQ. "We are committed to staying ahead of these threats by leveraging cutting-edge technology to protect our members and educate the public on emerging risks."

The report details key fraud trends and how AI is reshaping fraud, making scams more convincing and harder to detect. Deepfake technology is being used to impersonate individuals, AI-powered phishing is creating hyper-personalized attacks, and robo-scammers are automating large-scale fraud efforts.

"As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, scammers are finding new ways to exploit it," said Michael Scheumack, IDIQ Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer. "It’s more critical than ever for consumers to stay informed, stay on top of their credit and personal information, and take proactive security measures."

The report also outlines steps consumers can take to help avoid fraud and safeguard their personal information, including:

• Regularly monitor credit reports to detect possible suspicious activity early.
• Verify requests directly by contacting the agency or business through official communication channels.
• Be wary of urgent requests that pressure for quick action, especially those involving money transfers or sensitive data.

For more insights and information, visit IdentityIQ.com.

About IDIQ:

IDIQ® is recognized as one of the fastest-growing industry leaders in identity theft protection and credit report monitoring. The IDIQ flagship brand is IdentityIQ®, offering real-time fraud alerts and credit report information to not only protect but also educate consumers. Popular IDIQ brands also include MyScoreIQ® for financial health and protection; Credit & Debt®, a credit and debt education-based membership platform; and IDIQ® Pre-Paid Legal Services℠, a leading provider of voluntary employee benefits.

The newly-launched CreditBuilderIQ℠ and CreditScoreIQ℠ brands for DIY credit-building innovative tools along with the all-in-one customer relationship management tool Disco℠ round out the IDIQ full suite of products. To download the new report, visit https://www.identityiq.com/2024-fraud-trends-report.

— Seasoned Business Leader to Lead IDIQ’s Next Phase of Growth —

Irvine, California, March 13, 2025 – IDIQ, a leader in financial intelligence, has promoted Bryan Sullivan to the new role of President & Chief Financial Officer. Sullivan, who joined IDIQ in May 2021 as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has been a key player in the company’s growth and success.

In his expanded role, Sullivan will continue to report directly to Scott Hermann, IDIQ’s Chief Executive Officer. He will focus on revenue growth within existing channels, expansion into new channel opportunities and transformational operations.

“Over the last three years I am proud of the platform we have built to become the leader in financial intelligence. I am honored to step into this expanded role and further drive the strategic growth and financial success of IDIQ,” Sullivan said. “This is an exciting time of innovation and expansion. I look forward to working with our talented team to provide our members with great service and the features and benefits that protect and empower their financial lives.”

Before joining IDIQ, Sullivan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at loanDepot, where he played a key role in acquisitions, capital financing, and expanding the company into one of the nation’s leading consumer finance platforms. Prior to loanDepot, he had senior leadership roles at PIMCO and Goldman Sachs. Sullivan has extensive expertise in fintech, financial services, data services, and real estate services with a strong command of how to build and grow businesses.

“Bryan has been an integral part of IDIQ, demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and dedication to the company’s growth and success,” said Hermann, CEO of IDIQ. “I’m confident that under Bryan’s continued leadership and expanded role, IDIQ will reach new heights as the financial intelligence industry leader.”

IDIQ, founded in 2009, is one of the fastest-growing companies in America, earning five consecutive spots on the prestigious Inc. 5000 List that has also featured Microsoft, Patagonia, Intuit and Under Armour as previous list honorees.

About IDIQ:

IDIQ® is recognized as one of the fastest-growing industry leaders in identity theft protection and credit report monitoring. The IDIQ flagship brand is IdentityIQ®, offering real-time fraud alerts and credit report information to not only protect but also educate consumers. Popular IDIQ brands also include MyScoreIQ® for financial health and protection; Credit & Debt®, a credit and debt education-based membership platform; and IDIQ® Pre-Paid Legal Services℠, a leading provider of voluntary employee benefits.

The newly-launched CreditBuilderIQ℠ and CreditScoreIQ℠ brands for DIY credit-building innovative tools along with the all-in-one customer relationship management tool Disco℠ round out the IDIQ full suite of products. For more information, visit www.IDIQ.com.

Media Contact:
Kristin Hudson
Public Relations, IDIQ
951.397.7595
khudson@idiq.com