MORE people are falling victim to identity fraud despite growing awareness of the problem. According to credit information group Experian, 6,000 identity theft victims contacted its staff for help last year, two-thirds more than in 2006.
Company directors and people running their own business were the most likely to be affected, while those aged between 26 and 45 and renting their home were also particularly vulnerable, according to Experian's latest dossier on victims of fraud. Tho
se earning more than £50,000 a year are nearly three times more likely to be victims of identity fraud, it added
"The dramatic increases we have witnessed in identity fraud in the last few years have coincided with the increasing involvement of organised criminals," commented Helen Lord, Experian's director of fraud and compliance. "The rate of identity fraud growth is worrying."
The tactics used by fraud criminals have grown more diverse, with forwarding address fraud the most common method last year, accounting for 36 per cent of identity fraud reported to Experian. This occurs when the perpetrator redirects the victim's post to an address that he or she has access to, usually a mail drop. Other common scams include card cloning, phishing e-mails requesting personal identity details and bin raiding.
But there are several simple steps you can take to protect yourself from identity fraud, which costs the average victim £1,303, according to Experian.
The most obvious measure is to ensure that all information relating to your identity and finances is secure. In short, treat data such as your bank details and other financial contracts as confidential and keep them in a safe place. This is because surprisingly little information is required to commit identity fraud – application fraud, for instance, occurs when stolen or false documents, such as utility bills, are used to access your bank account or open a new account in your name.
So it's worth shredding any correspondence with your details on, especially bank statements, chequebook stubs and receipts. Simply throwing it all in the bin leaves you vulnerable to bin raiders who rifle through rubbish looking for personal information.
"A lot of identity theft happens because fraudsters are aiming at easy targets," said Sandra Quinn, director of communications at UK payments association APACS. "When it comes to taking measures to avoid fraud it is a decision that we all make about the balance of risk and convenience."
With Experian reporting that home renters are particularly at risk from identity fraud, transferring all your personal information when you move is vital. When you do move, let every organisation you deal with know of your new address and use Royal Mail to forward your post, rather than asking one of your neighbours or leaving your post with the new tenants.
"Key tasks to keep identities safe include redirecting mail for at least a year after a move, notifying all financial institutions, organisations and authorities and signing on to the electoral register as soon as possible," advised Keith McNeilly, co-founder of home move service Moveme.com "It is also essential that personal credit reports are checked regularly, particularly before you move, to check all bank account details and personal credit information is correct."
About two or three months after moving it's worth obtaining a copy of your personal credit file from a credit reference agency, such as Experian, Equifax or Callcredit, to check everything is still in place. But otherwise there is no need to undertake a credit check more than once a year unless you suspect you have fallen victim to fraud.
When it comes to banking, keeping passwords and pin numbers secret is another obvious sounding recommendation, but fraudsters have become particularly adept at prising these details from people. Phishing is a popular method, where the victim receives an e-mail purportedly from their bank asking them to click on an attached link to a spoof bank homepage and log in using their password. Banks do not e-mail (or phone) customers asking for their account information – certainly not their entire passwords.
"Banks will never ask you to disclose your details, so if you get a call from someone claiming to be your bank, ask for their number and check it before you call them back," advised Quinn. Likewise, if you receive a phishing e-mail, delete it and inform your bank.
If you suspect that you have been the victim of any form of fraud, contact your local police station as soon as possible.
TOP tips for avoiding fraud:Keep all personal documents in a safe and secure place
Don't let your cards out of your sight when paying for goods or services
Don't respond to e-mails sent by someone you don't know asking for any personal or financial details
When you move, ask the Post Office to redirect your mail
Check your personal credit file – seven in ten people only find out when they check their file that they have been victims of fraud
If post you are expecting does not arrive or comes late – such as a bank statement or a bill – contact the supplier. If you suspect your post is being stolen, call the Royal Mail on 08457 740 740
Shred bank statements, utility bills and any other documents containing your name and address before you dispose of them
Don't us the same PIN number for more than one card
Scrutinise bank statements for payments you didn't make – if you spot an unfamiliar transaction contact your card company or bank immediately.
