Huge rise in identity fraud levels
04 August 2009
The number of people who have been a victim of identity theft has risen in the first half of 2009.
That is according to CIFAS – The UK''s Fraud Protection Service, which announced a 74 per cent year-on-year rise of identity fraud in the first half of 2009.
Also garnered by the data was a 43 per cent increase in the number of people who have suffered impersonation crime, with more than 52,000 reported cases.
CIFAS chief executive, Peter Hurst, said: "The recession has an impact throughout society. Fraudsters will not let this stop them, however, whether they are acting out of personal desperation or more sinister, organised, aims.
"The rise in the numbers of victims, and these very specific types of fraud demonstrate that fraudsters have no regard for economic, social and personal fragility."
However, there was some positive news to come out of the report, with application fraud levels dropping by 25 per cent.
The Home Office has issued a number of tips to help combat identity fraud which include varying passwords for internet and telephone accounts.
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