Over Half of Consumers Chilling to Online Holiday Shopping Due to Identity and Credit Card Theft

SAN FRANCISCO, CA and GREENWICH, CT – According to a new survey, about six in ten consumers (58%) say they may reduce their online shopping during the holiday season this year because of identity theft and other privacy concerns, up from 49 percent who expressed this view a year ago. The second annual online shopping study conducted by TNS, the world’s second largest marketing information company, and TRUSTe, the online privacy leader, indicates that almost half (46%) of Internet shoppers say they buy only from e-tailers that have a privacy statement or seal.

“The results show consumers have been paying attention to the onslaught of spyware, phishing, identity theft and credit card fraud,” said Fran Maier, executive director of TRUSTe. “During this holiday season, consumers will be checking which Web sites are naughty and which are nice by looking for positive signs of privacy, security and safety like privacy seals.”