By Lois Avery
Identity thieves are getting their hands on £1.9 billion of other people’s money every year in the UK, new figures reveal.
The National Fraud Authority (NFA) estimates that identity fraud costs more than £2.7 billion and affects more than 1.8 million people.
Of this money, at least £1.9 billion is the amount gained by the fraudster, which means on average ID thieves gain over £1,000 from every stolen identity.
Dr Bernard Herdan, chief executive of the NFA, said: “Stolen and false identities are a significant enabler of crime and this issue demands a co-ordinated response across government and the private sector. The work we've undertaken has allowed us to gain a better understanding of the issue of identity crime.
“We are now working actively with our partners to improve the UK's response to identity related crime and help reduce its devastating impact,” he added.
As part of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, the NFA is reminding individuals and businesses how important it is to take responsibility for protecting their own identity. Action Fraud offers the following advice to help protect against ID theft.
• Don't throw out anything with your name, address or financial details without shredding it first.
• Check your bank and credit card statements carefully and report anything suspicious to the financial institution concerned.
• Make sure your computer has up to date anti-virus software installed.
• Make sure you use all the privacy settings available on social networking sites - but don't put too much personal information up there.
• If you move house, always get Royal Mail to redirect your post.
