This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7031137.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MPs call for identity fraud tsar | MPs call for identity fraud tsar |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An "identity fraud tsar" should be appointed to oversee attempts to tackle the crime, a group of MPs has said. | An "identity fraud tsar" should be appointed to oversee attempts to tackle the crime, a group of MPs has said. |
| The All Party Group on Identity Fraud said a tsar was needed to co-ordinate the work being done by the government, police and private sector. | The All Party Group on Identity Fraud said a tsar was needed to co-ordinate the work being done by the government, police and private sector. |
| The MPs also called for the government to make the public and businesses more aware of identity fraud and how they can avoid becoming victims. | The MPs also called for the government to make the public and businesses more aware of identity fraud and how they can avoid becoming victims. |
| Last year more than 170,000 cases of identity fraud were identified. | Last year more than 170,000 cases of identity fraud were identified. |
| In their report the MPs also recommended police are given the resources to employ dedicated identity fraud officers. | In their report the MPs also recommended police are given the resources to employ dedicated identity fraud officers. |
| 'Young at risk' | 'Young at risk' |
| They said tougher sanctions should be placed on organisations that put people's personal information in danger. | They said tougher sanctions should be placed on organisations that put people's personal information in danger. |
| Immediate action should be taken by the banking industry to protect customers, the MPs said. | Immediate action should be taken by the banking industry to protect customers, the MPs said. |
| ID FRAUD WARNING SIGNS You have a good credit history but are turned down because of a default on your recordThere are entries on your credit file you do not recogniseYou are being chased for outstanding debtMail you normally expect from financial institutions does not arriveYou have lost or had important documents stolenYou apply for benefits and are told you are already claiming, when you are not Source: Home Office Q&A: Protecting your identity How to reclaim your identity | ID FRAUD WARNING SIGNS You have a good credit history but are turned down because of a default on your recordThere are entries on your credit file you do not recogniseYou are being chased for outstanding debtMail you normally expect from financial institutions does not arriveYou have lost or had important documents stolenYou apply for benefits and are told you are already claiming, when you are not Source: Home Office Q&A: Protecting your identity How to reclaim your identity |
| The group was set up in 2006 and asked to undertake a study into the area of identity fraud. | The group was set up in 2006 and asked to undertake a study into the area of identity fraud. |
| The crime costs the economy about £1.7bn a year, according to government estimates, with 171,488 cases coming to light in the UK during 2006. | The crime costs the economy about £1.7bn a year, according to government estimates, with 171,488 cases coming to light in the UK during 2006. |
| Recent surveys suggest as many as one in four people may have been affected by identity theft. | Recent surveys suggest as many as one in four people may have been affected by identity theft. |
| The MPs found many people were not taking adequate steps to protect themselves against the fraud, particularly young people. | The MPs found many people were not taking adequate steps to protect themselves against the fraud, particularly young people. |
| Research shows one in six 16 to 25-year-olds publishes information about his or herself on the internet that could be used by an identity fraudster. | Research shows one in six 16 to 25-year-olds publishes information about his or herself on the internet that could be used by an identity fraudster. |
| The MPs called for an advertising campaign on social networking websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace to raise awareness among younger people. | The MPs called for an advertising campaign on social networking websites such as Facebook, Bebo and MySpace to raise awareness among younger people. |
| They also said consumers and businesses needed to be educated about the dangers of leaving personal information on computers they were disposing of. | They also said consumers and businesses needed to be educated about the dangers of leaving personal information on computers they were disposing of. |
| Ruined lives | Ruined lives |
| Nigel Evans, chair of the group, said: "Throughout the course of this study the group has been stunned by the damage identity fraud is having on the lives of our constituents across the country. | Nigel Evans, chair of the group, said: "Throughout the course of this study the group has been stunned by the damage identity fraud is having on the lives of our constituents across the country. |
| A third of people throw out sensitive material without so much as tearing it in half Nigel Evans,All Party Group on Identity Fraud Send us your comments | A third of people throw out sensitive material without so much as tearing it in half Nigel Evans,All Party Group on Identity Fraud Send us your comments |
| "Identity fraudsters have had it too easy for too long. It's time we cracked down on them before more people's lives are ruined by their trade." | "Identity fraudsters have had it too easy for too long. It's time we cracked down on them before more people's lives are ruined by their trade." |
| Clive Green, from London, had his identity stolen and £3,000 was withdrawn from his account. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It suddenly became an absolute nightmare for me. | |
| "Mortgage wasn't paid, cheques bounced, charges for this, bank charges for the overdraft, and all these things just started adding up. | |
| "I'm still trying to claim this back." | |
| Mr Evans said stress from this type of theft was making people ill, and there was need for more awareness. | |
| 1% investigated | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A third of people throw out sensitive material without so much as tearing it in half, and there is such a thing as bin raiding... 22 of 36 police forces in England don't have ID fraud in their local policing plan." | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "A third of people throw out sensitive material without so much as tearing it in half, and there is such a thing as bin raiding... 22 of 36 police forces in England don't have ID fraud in their local policing plan." |
| Estimates by Cifas, the UK's fraud protection body, suggest only 1% of all cases of ID thefts are investigated by police. | Estimates by Cifas, the UK's fraud protection body, suggest only 1% of all cases of ID thefts are investigated by police. |
| Sandra Quinn, of the Association for Payment Clearing Services, said she was unsure if an ID fraud tsar was the answer. | Sandra Quinn, of the Association for Payment Clearing Services, said she was unsure if an ID fraud tsar was the answer. |
| She said: "What we are really looking for is all industries working together and that has to be the solution to the problem." | She said: "What we are really looking for is all industries working together and that has to be the solution to the problem." |
| Home Office Minister Meg Hillier described it as "a growing problem. Criminals often steal identities in order to do more serious organised crime and so it's something that we really do need to tackle." | Home Office Minister Meg Hillier described it as "a growing problem. Criminals often steal identities in order to do more serious organised crime and so it's something that we really do need to tackle." |
| The Home Office said it had introduced a number of measures to target identity fraud, including tougher criminal penalties, better co-ordination in prosecuting fraudsters, more powers to share data about frauds and increased efforts to raise public awareness of the issue. | The Home Office said it had introduced a number of measures to target identity fraud, including tougher criminal penalties, better co-ordination in prosecuting fraudsters, more powers to share data about frauds and increased efforts to raise public awareness of the issue. |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "We will consider the report's recommendations and respond in due course." | A Home Office spokesman said: "We will consider the report's recommendations and respond in due course." |
| National Identity Fraud Prevention Week begins on Monday. | National Identity Fraud Prevention Week begins on Monday. |