Paul Conway Wednesday 17th August 2006
The under-30s are the group most at risk from identity theft and the thieves know many of their victims. ID crime has soared from 20,000 cases in 1999 to 137,000 last year and costs 1.7billion a year ($3.06).
Research suggests that this figure is only the tip of the iceberg. It claims up to six million people may have unknowingly fallen victim to identity theft. Young people are the most unaware of how to protect themselves.
According to a survey, more than two-thirds of those aged under 30 have given friends or family personal financial information that could be used to access their accounts-despite experts warnings that most identity thieves know their victims.
Nearly a third of people in this age group are also unaware that a utility bill could be used to steal someones identity and plunder their accounts. Many victims become aware that their identity has been stolen only when they apply for a loan, credit card or mortgage.
An identity theft specialist has stated that: Official statistics relating to ID theft are not indicative of the scale of this growing crime. Many cases go unrecorded or undetected. It is relatively easy for a thief to steal someones identity and people, particularly the under-30s, are not as cautious as they should be when it comes to safeguarding their personal details and those of others.
He warns that the under-30s are at greater risk of becoming victims or putting others at risk because they generally have more nomadic lifestyle for example, living in rented properties. He says people can reduce the risk of falling prey to ID theft by shredding all personal documents.
Those moving home should make sure they notify their energy supplier and any providers with whom they have a credit agreement.
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