79% of Britons continue to throw away their identities

79% of Britons continue to throw away their identities

- Unprecedented support received for the UK’s third National Identity Fraud Prevention Week -

LONDON,- The UK’s third National Identity Fraud Prevention Week – a major awareness drive, warning of the dangers of identity fraud – begins today.

As new research reveals that 79% of us are still being careless with our personal details, an unprecedented group of public and private sector partners have come together to support the UK’s largest identity fraud awareness drive. The campaign aims to educate consumers and businesses as to the dangers of identity fraud, and the preventative steps that could – and should – be taken.

This year’s campaign is supported by 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 of Small Businesses, The Home Office, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the DVLA, The City of London Police, the BBA, the FSA, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), regional police forces and politicians from across the political divide.

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% 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.

* Over 19 million households regularly place sensitive materials in their waste and recycling bins
* 11% 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% 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

The Glaswegians fared worst in this study – in one week, 82% of households had disposed of material that could have been used by a fraudster. London’s (Wandsworth) residents followed closely behind (74%) had disposed of material that contained such sensitive material). The most responsible behaviour patterns were seen in Birmingham (62%) and Cardiff (69%).

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.

Individuals and businesses are also increasingly at risk online, where the dangers for fraudsters are lower. Later in the week there will be activity aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of paper based and online fraud.

Research conducted for last year’s campaign showed that 97% of households regularly placed sensitive materials in their waste and recycling bins. The 18% 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. There is light at the end of the tunnel and National Identity Fraud Prevention Week 2007 aims to continue this positive trend.

There are several ways ID fraudsters may potentially target consumers. These include: good old fashioned theft of personal documents or security information; stealing post from communal hallways; using mail which has not been redirected after someone has moved; duping consumers to disclose personal details online; or bin raiding.

ID fraudsters need more than one single piece of information or documentation to steal an identity. Whilst an address, postcode, driving licence, passport, national insurance number or even a utility bill are not necessarily useful to a fraudster in isolation, collectively they are as valuable as cash to the ID fraudster, so they need to be stored securely or disposed with care.

A series of quotes from partners – including the Metropolitan Police, the Identity and Passport Service, Royal Mail, CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Fellowes, Callcredit, Equifax, Experian, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), The City of London Police, the BBA, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) – can be found in the notes to the editor, below.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For more information, or to make an interview request, please contact the National Identity Fraud Prevention Week press office:

Gerel Orgil – Tel: 020 7395 7079 or gereltuya.orgil {at} fleishmaneurope(.)com
Jo Reale – Tel: 020 7395 7168 or jo.reale {at} fleishmaneurope(.)com
Hayley Allman – Tel: 020 7395 7115 or hayley.allman {at} fleishmaneurope(.)com

The National Identity Fraud Prevention Week team has once again produced its invaluable ‘Protecting Your Identity’ guide, which is free to members of the public. In addition, an online identity theft risk assessment is available on the official campaign website www.stop-idfraud.co.uk

For this and more information on how to protect yourself, and how to cope if you are a victim of identity fraud, visit www.stop-idfraud.co.uk, or call freephone 00800 1810 1810 to get a copy of the guide.

Steps the public can take to protect themselves include:

* Keep your personal and confidential documents secure
* Always shred, using a cross cut shredder, before disposing of documentation – bank and credit card statements, utility bills, receipts, direct mail containing any personal information, mortgage applications etc
* Regularly check your bank and credit card accounts for unusual transactions
* Regularly obtain a copy of your credit report from credit reference agencies Callcredit, Equifax or Experian, and monitor it for discrepancies
* When you move home, redirect your mail from your old address to your new address for at least a year. You can now apply online 24/7, visit: www.royalmail.com/redirection for more information
* Going away? If you’re planning to be away from home, you’ll want to make sure you don’t leave any obvious clues, like a pile of mail on your doormat, contact Royal Mail about their ‘Keepsafe’ service which will hold your mail for up to two months, and deliver it on your return. For more information visit www.royalmail.com
* Regularly check your bank and credit card accounts for unusual transactions
* Never give out any personal information to unidentified individuals or organisations who contact you by phone, email or face-to-face
* Visit www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/ for information on different types of fraud.
* Never respond to e-mails asking for personal or financial information. Be especially careful when sending personal information over the internet.
* If you receive an email that warns, with little or no notice, that an account will be shut down unless you reconfirm billing or security information, you should not reply or click on the link in the email. Instead, contact the institution cited in the email using a telephone number or web site address you know to be genuine.
* Use up-to-date anti-virus software and a personal firewall and, if your computer uses the Microsoft Windows operating system, keep it updated from the Microsoft website. Be extra careful if using Internet cafes or any PC which is not your own and over which you have no control. If in doubt, a good place to get help and guidance on how to stay safe online is your bank’s website. Check regularly for specific information and guidance on protecting your PC and yourself online.
* Avoid emailing personal and financial information. Before submitting financial information through a web site, look for the ‘lock’ icon on the browser’s status bar. It signals that personal information is secure during transmission.
* Never give personal information to people calling from companies you have not dealt with before. Always check the identity of these people by calling them back. Obtain their office number from directory enquiries and then confirm their position with the switchboard before speaking to them
* If you have been a victim of identity fraud involving the use of plastic cards, online banking or cheques, the matter should be reported direct to the financial institution concerned. They will then be responsible for further investigation and, where appropriate, onward reporting to the police. Other incidents should be reported to the relevant organisation and, dependent on their advice, to your local police station

Tyron Hill, Marketing Director, Fellowes and National Identity Fraud Prevention Week spokesperson, said:
“Despite continued work to raise awareness of identity fraud, it seems that still, not enough is being done. The research shows us, that consumers are still putting their identities at risk. Identity fraud not only affects us individually, but helps to fund organised criminal activity.

“Our identities should be our most prized possessions – we should take every possible step to safeguard our identities by acting responsibly online and by shredding ALL paper documents before disposing of them.”

Commenting on the week, Meg Hillier MP, the Home Office Minister with responsibility for identity fraud, said:
“I am pleased to support National Identity Fraud Prevention Week 2007. Identity fraud is a serious problem and is often the ‘tip of the iceberg’, enabling other criminal activity such as benefit fraud, illegal immigration, illegal working, drug trafficking, and terrorism. It is vital that everyone takes appropriate steps to reduce the opportunities for criminals to use other people’s identity to commit fraud. This is not just about individuals protecting their own identity. All organisations, including government and businesses, have a responsibility to protect the personal details of employees and customers.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Mawer, head of the Economic and Specialist Crime Command, Metropolitan Police Service said:
“We are pleased to be working together in partnership to raise public awareness of the dangers of identity theft. Identity theft is not a victimless crime – it can impact upon the economy as a whole and can take many hours to restore your credit rating, this in turn can cause great personal distress.

“The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to tackling those criminal networks who commit identity fraud through both physical and on-line theft. However we urge the public to take the necessary steps to better protect themselves and to treat their personal details as they would their valuables.”

Nigel Evans Chair of the All Party Group on Identity Fraud and Member of Parliament for Ribble Valley, added:
“The All Party Group fully supports this campaign, and the work of the partners, to raise awareness of the dangers of identity fraud. Identity fraud is a growing and serious problem. The best way to tackle it is to ensure that consumers and businesses are fully aware of the steps they can take to protect personal information.

“Identity fraud costs the economy millions each year, and it is time that we all take our responsibility to protect our personal information seriously.”

Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director of Equifax said:
“I don’t know anyone who would leave their wallet open for thieves to simply take cash or cards, but that is virtually what is happening with people’s personal details, both in terms of information thrown away and information put on the web. Personal information is a valuable asset, and the steps are relatively easy to reduce the risk of ID fraud and theft. Our goal, and that of the other partners, is that this week will help individuals better understand those steps so that we can have a real impact on this insidious crime.”

Kate Beddington Brown of CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, added:
“It is easy to think “identity theft won’t happen to me” but it is all too easy to become a victim. We all need to be particularly careful with our personal details. To give two examples, don’t hand your personal details to anyone in the street just because they have a clipboard, and don’t use your mobile phone to buy an item from a catalogue in a crowded railway carriage. Make no mistake about being a victim – even if you manage to rectify matters quickly, it can still be a very unnerving experience.”

Tony Marsh, General Manager, Royal Mail Security, said:
“Preventing ID fraud is mainly about good housekeeping. Don’t discard documents, such as credit card receipts or utility bills without completely destroying them, they tell too much about you. Make sure that your mail delivery point is secure and can’t be “picked” after delivery, and if you’re going away, get someone to collect or move your mail for you or use Royal Mail’s Keepsafe. If you’re moving house put an official redirection in place, don’t rely on people you don’t know and may never have met to forward your mail, and if you live in premises with multiple addresses behind one front door consider fitting a robust locked external mail box. Don’t get paranoid but make sure that your mail isn’t insecure, that’s when it gets targeted.”

Anthony Pearlgood, British Security Industry Association (BSIA) Information Destruction Section Chairman, said:
“Many individuals are still unaware of the implications of not ensuring their confidential material is destroyed correctly. Criminals can target individuals or businesses, and then trade off the back of their good name to obtain goods and services”.

Helen Lord, Fraud and Regulatory Compliance Director at Experian, added:
“Those affected by identity fraud know just how distressing, confusing and inconvenient it can be. An identity fraudster can leave your credit history in tatters. The dramatic rise in identity fraud has coincided with increasing activity from organised crime in this space, but the opportunistic identity fraudster remains a very real threat to consumers too. We should all be looking after our personal information because it is as precious as the cash in our wallets.”

David Croucher-Jones, FSB Home Affairs Chairman, said:
“Preventative action is always much easier and less painful than to take remedial action later on. Hindsight, when dealing with a loss of money or business critical information, is a luxury that no small business can afford.

“Taking simple precautionary steps is easier now than it has ever been with a variety of cheap technology available, as well as a wider range of secure digital storage solutions that are also simple to use.”

Owen Roberts, Identity Protection Expert at Callcredit said:
“The consequences of falling victim to identity theft can be devastating yet people are still failing to take simple precautions to protect themselves. To a criminal your identity can be worth more than your wallet or car keys yet you wouldn’t dream of leaving these lying around. It is time to realise that identity theft isn’t something that happens to other people, it is happening to us and our friends every day and if we want to put a stop to it we have to act now. There can be no excuse for failing to take a few simple steps that will make a huge difference; don’t throw your identity in the bin, don’t broadcast it on the internet by failing to protect your PC and check your credit report regularly for any sign that someone is out there running up debts in your name.”

*Fellowes’ bin-raiding research conducted by Waste Works.

Information that was found during this research, which could be used by criminals, includes:

* Bank account details
* Credit card application ID numbers
* National Insurance numbers
* Mobile Phone numbers
* Photocopy of passports
* CV
* A will
* Pin number for credit and debit cards
* Email addresses
* Car registration documents
* Travel details – times away from homes
* Photocopies of passports
* Confirmation of a loan agreement
* ISA account details
* Vehicle registration plate
* Copy of a driving licence
* Photocopy of a visa
* Motor insurance documents
* Car registration documentations
* Mortgage details
* Blank credit card cheques
* Nurse’s ID badge
* Passwords for online accounts
* Benefits books
* Utility bills
* Savings books
* Employment details
* Medical details

Documents featuring personal details are valuable to identity fraudsters who use the stolen identities to apply for credit cards, mobile phone contracts, and in some circumstances, higher level fraudulent activities e.g. opening bank accounts. These documents are also vital in helping offenders to ‘prove’ their stolen identity.

** Populus, commissioned by Fellowes, CallCredit, Experian and Equifax, interviewed a random sample of 1005 adults aged 18+ by telephone between September 21st and 23rd 2007. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to be representative of all adults. Populus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. For more details go to www.populuslimited.com.

*** In order to determine which sections of society are most at risk from identity fraud, information solutions group Experian has anonymised and analysed data gleaned from more than 2,500 victims of identity fraud that first contacted its Victims of Fraud service for help regaining their identities during the first half of 2007. For more information or to request a copy of the research please contact James Taylor on 0115 934 4547 or james.taylor2 {at} uk.experian(.)com

Online fraud

The phenomenal growth in the use of the Internet in all areas of our personal and business lives has brought many positive benefits, but it also creates risks for the unwary. As criminals have found that bank systems are difficult to attack, they have increasingly turned their attention to attacking the home user or other businesses to obtain personal information to allow them to perpetrate fraud. In 2006 total losses from online banking fraud from scams such as phishing and Trojans reached £33.5 million, an increase of 44% from 2005[1].

Whatever you use the Internet for it is vital to take a few basic steps to ensure that your computer is protected against the latest threats. Just as you protect your house with locks on windows and doors and maybe also a burglar alarm, it is essential that you protect your computer by using up-to-date anti-virus software, doing regular scans of your computer to check for viruses, installing a personal firewall as well as the latest security updates for your web browser and operating system.

[1] Source: APACS