According to the Home Office, identity theft, where
personal information is obtained by someone else without the
owner’s knowledge, affects more than 100,000 people each year in
the UK. Often the information is used to open bank accounts, credit
cards, or even to obtain benefits and services in the victim’s
name.
Some of these risks take place online. There has been a marked
increase in awareness of phishing attacks over the last 18 months.
The conventional phishing attack involves sending emails that
purport to come from a trusted brand, asking recipients to disclose
their financial details.
According to the latest report from the Anti-Phishing Working
Group (APWG), the number of conventional phishing attacks actually
dropped slightly in July this year – with 14,135 unique phishing
reports made to the group, down from 15,050 in June.
However, the US-based industry group warned that there has been
a marked increase in malicious software designed to steal identity
information for financial crime. This new tactic involves the use
of screenscraper technology to take a snapshot of the screen when
the oblivious user keys in his details.
The Home Office points out that identity theft is not usually a
high-tech crime: personal details can be found far more easily on
cash receipts thrown in the bin, or by raking through the
possessions of a family member.
The leaflet published yesterday by the Home Office therefore
stresses the simple steps that people can take to protect
themselves.
Top of the list is the shredding of personal documents such as
bills, receipts and bank statements. An estimated one million
personal shredders are sold each year as a result of public concern
about identity fraud.
This is followed by a plug for national ID Cards. "The
Government's plans to introduce a National Identity Cards scheme
will help individuals to prove their identity and protect it from
being misused or stolen by criminals," said Burnham.
The leaflet warns that you may be at risk of identity fraud if
you lose or have stolen important documents such as your passport
or driving licence, or if you don't receive post that you expect
to, for example from a bank.
The Home Office cites research by credit reference agency
Experian, which shows that the people most likely to be the victims
of identity theft include young professionals and "middle-aged
families" living in central London with office and service jobs.
They are twice as likely to be victims of identity fraud.
People who earn over £60,000 are almost three times more likely
to be victims of identity fraud, and those with settled families,
living in the suburbs and with well-paid corporate careers are four
times more likely to be victims of identity fraud.
The leaflets, produced by the Home Office Identity Fraud
Steering Committee, will be available in main police stations,
libraries, Citizen's Advice Bureaux, UK Passport Service regional
offices and local DVLA offices.
