Identity fraud climbs 32%

Monday, 01 March 2010 10:31

By myfinances.co.uk staff

Cases of identity fraud rose 32% last year as criminals targeted Britons' bank accounts, communications and mail order products, a new report has claimed.

The Fraudscape study from Cifas shows that overall levels of reported fraud increased by almost ten per cent last year compared with 2008.

It added that 74% of identity fraud cases, where a criminal steals the name of an innocent person or uses entirely false personal details, were committed online.

The typical victim of this type of crime is a man in his 40s, although the fraud prevention service noted that incidents involving women increased last year, indicating that "anyone can be a potential target".

Cifas also said there was a worrying growth in current address fraud, which is typically committed by someone living with the victim - or the so-called victim themselves.

Some 63% of identity fraud committed on loan accounts last year involved current address fraud. Cifas said in many cases, these crimes were carried out by friends and family who assumed the victim would not be held responsible for any wrongdoing.

Cifas chief executive Peter Hurst warned that the organisation's figures represent "the tip of the iceberg".

According to National Fraud Authority, the crime costs the UK £30 billion a year.

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