A study conducted by the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Research finds that despite growing fears about online fraud, most cases of identity theft originate offline.

“Most often, a lost or stolen wallet or checkbook gives thieves information to commit fraud. Computer crimes made up just 12 percent of all identity fraud cases in which the cause is known; and of those half are attributed to spyware, the software that sneaks onto computers and can send back private information.” According to the AP.

The study also found that identity fraud is often committed by a friend, relative, in-home employee or someone else known by the victim.

Link to the press release for the study.

Full(ish) report here.