Shocking figures today revealed London as the current hot spot for identity fraud in the UK
It has been revealed as many as 2,570 new victims were affected in the first half of 2007 alone showing a 70% increase according to new figures from credit rating agency Experian.
Those living inside the M25 are more than three and half times more likely to be targeted. Kensington has been proven to be the highest risk area where residents are five times more likely to fall victim than the UK average.
Present address fraud, which often involves interception of mail continues to be the most popular form of fraud. With the wealthiest sections in society continuing to be be most popularly targeted.Those that rent are also highly at risk.
Financial services continue to be vigilant bringing more cases of fraud to victims attention in the first half of 2007 than in any previous six-month period.
Helen Lord, Fraud and Regulatory Compliance Director at Experian comments " Although some people are more likely than others to become a victim, and consumers are more aware of the threat than ever before, everyone is a potential victim. The rate of identity fraud growth continues to be scary."
On average each case of fraud costs the financial organisation involved £700. Mail order companies were found to be the hardest hit accounting for 70% of new cases.
Joseph Bloggs (37)from East London, found himself a victim of identity theft earlier this year despite taking what he thought was all the necessary precautions.
A year after moving house he was refused a credit card. After making further enquires he was informed by the credit card company that he already had one of their cards and had an outstanding balance of £6,500
It was discovered that the new occupiers of his house had applied on 25 occasions
for a credit card in his name after he had moved. They even went as far as registering him back onto the electoral register at his old address.
"Despite doing all the right things to protect myself I still became a victim. I wouldn't wish it on anyone," said Joseph.
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2 comments:
Once i actually found the important information in the given press release I found this quite enjoyable. I think I am working what information is needed quicker now. Working from a press release was of interest to me and to find out what is directly adverting the product or service and what is actual news. I am fine once I get going but I still struggle on finding what I deem a suitable intro.
Hi there Ellie,
Thanks for posting this. Generally very good. You have retained much o the press release information, but for a news story I like the fact that you have retained part of a case-study quote for the final paragraph.
Be careful with the use of words like 'shocking' - these tend to be the kinds of things (lazy) PR companies use to spice up their releases and you have to be pretty certain that the news is shocking (rather than just perhaps interesting or diverting) before usin them. Good to see that you didn;t make the mistake made by some of your class collegues of including all Experian's product information!
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