Identity Theft Costs Indians 
7,500 On An Average: Microsoft
New Delhi: As more Indians are logging onto the Internet, cases of identity theft are also on the rise and a survey by Microsoft has found damages from such acts to have costed individuals about Rs 7,500 on an average.
According to Microsoft's third annual Computing Safer Index ( MCSI), 20 per cent of respondents from India said they had fallen prey to phishing attacks.
"About 12 per cent Indian respondents said they suffered identity theft at an average cost them Rs 7,500," MSCI added.
Globally, Microsoft said identity thefts has cost as much as $5 billion overall.
"Annual worldwide impact of phishing and various forms of identity theft could be as high as $5 billion, with the cost of repairing damage to peoples' online reputation higher yet at nearly $6 billion or an estimated average of $632 (Rs 39,000) per loss," MSCI estimates.
The survey, released on International Safer Internet Day, measures the online safety behaviour of about 10,500 consumers in 20 countries and was conducted between March-May 2013.
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