Police warning over identity theft

Date published: 08/10/2007

Greater Manchester police is urging all residents and businesses to work together with the authorities to protect their identities.

The calls come as part of the National Identity Fraud Prevention Week campaign, which aims to educate consumers and businesses to the dangers of identity fraud, and the preventative steps that could - and should - be taken.
 
This year’s campaign is supported by an unprecedented group of partners including the Metropolitan Police, the Identity and Passport Service, Royal Mail, CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Fellowes, Callcredit, Equifax, Experian, HM Revenue and Customs, the Federation for Small Businesses, The Home Office, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the DVLA, The City of London Police, the BBA, APACS, the FSA, the BSIA and politicians from across the political divide as well as your police force.

Despite continuing efforts to combat identity fraud – still one of the UK’s fastest growing crimes – a Populus poll commissioned for this campaign shows that three quarters of UK adults have now been personally affected, or have friends and family who have been affected, by identity fraud.  Furthermore, 80 per cent of Britons fear having their identity stolen.  National bin-raiding research, commissioned by Fellowes, reveals why not enough is being done to keep identity thieves at bay.

• More than 19 million households regularly place sensitive materials in their waste and recycling bins.
• 11 per cent throw away whole credit/debit card numbers – a combination of a complete card number with its associated expiry date and owner’s signature was found in the waste and recycling of 13 per cent of households.
• A third of us are still throwing away everything a fraudster needs to steal a person’s identity, including passports, driving licences, CVs, phone and utility bills.

Chris Mackenzie MBE, Force Crime Reduction Advisor for GMP said: "Identity fraud is a serious and growing problem which affects all our communities.  From experience, we know that the best way to safeguard our personal information is through strong preventive measures, whether you’re shopping online, or throwing out your bills.
       
"We all have a personal responsibility to protect our identities, and I hope the people of Greater Manchester will join with us in partnering with National Identity Fraud Prevention Week to stamp out identity fraud."

Exclusive research carried out by Experian for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week shows that the wealthiest and most creditworthy sections of society are at the greatest risk, with fraudsters increasingly launching premeditated and sophisticated attacks.  However, while wealth and lifestyle can make top-salaried and affluent individuals more likely to be targeted, those renting are also at high risk. Graduates and young professionals are among those most at risk, as are council tenants.

Research conducted for last year’s campaign showed that 97 per cent of households regularly placed sensitive materials in their waste and recycling bins.  The 18 per cent decrease this year shows the impact that campaigns such as this are having in educating consumers about the dangers of identity fraud, and the preventative steps that could and should be taken.  The National Identity Fraud Prevention Week 2007 aims to continue this positive trend.