Final answer:
The assertion that fraud is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the U.S. is true. Identity theft is a primary form of such fraud, causing significant financial losses and damaging trust in institutions. Despite the influence of media on crime perception, reports indicate a rise in concerns over online personal information theft and exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement suggests that fraud is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States despite intense measures to prevent it. This assertion appears to be true. Fraud in various forms, including identity theft, popularly known as "True-name Fraud", is a significant issue. Identity thieves use stolen personal information such as Social Security numbers, PINs, or passwords to impersonate victims, often leading to considerable financial losses and undermining trust in institutions like banks, hospitals, and the government.
It's important to note that the perception of the prevalence of crimes like fraud can be distorted by media coverage and the portrayal of crime in popular television series. Yet despite the potential exaggeration of crime rates in public perception, figures related to online safety show a legitimate concern. The Pew Research Center reported substantial increases in expressed concern over online personal information exposure, online harassment, and online theft of personal information.
The criminal justice system continues to struggle with various types of frauds, including financial crimes. In contrast to physical crimes, financial crimes often involve numerous victims and may not always be perceived as equally harmful, raising questions about our societal standards for deviance and harm.