Identity Theft Facts
You may not realise that identity fraud is one
of the fastest growing crimes in the UK, and that more than
120,000 case were recorded last year alone.
-
You may be surprised to know that on average, it can
take 539 days before you discover you have become an
identity fraud victim. Even then, it can take you up to
300 hours work just to clear your name!
- And did you know that nearly 50% of all UK adults have
been targeted by fraudsters attempting to gain personal
financial information via telephone or the internet? 5% of
these people actually fall victim to these scams.
-
Did you know that one quarter of all adults in the
UK, either know someone who has been affected by
identity fraud, or have been a victim themselves,
according to Which magazine?
- Did you know that if you fail to redirect your mail
when you move you house, that you put yourself at risk of
having your name stolen and your identity used by
others.
- Did you know that residents of London are twice as
likely to be successfully targeted by fraudsters as those
living elsewhere in the UK? The next highest areas of risk
are the South East and North West of the UK.
- Did you know that of all the fraudulent attempts to
obtain credit in someone else's name, 90% of them are
spotted by the lenders?
| If you are concerned about the
possibility of falling prey to identity
fraudsters, you should check out your personal
credit report. This will show your credit
history, and enable you to determine
whether any credit cards, loans or mortgages
have been taken out by others, in your name.
- the online
credit monitoring and identity protection
service from Experian. Their service can
provide you with weekly alerts that will advise
you of any significant changes in your
report. |
|