Good evening / 04.12.08
Corporate Solutions
Corporate Solutions
10 March 2008
Londoners are most at risk of ID fraud in the UK, according to a new national ranking published by the credit reference agency, Callcredit. With New Addington in the London Borough of Croydon revealed as the area most ‘at risk’ of identity theft, the hometown of Kate Moss can no longer seen as a model location.
Analysis by Callcredit* found that almost 50% of the top 20 postal areas most at risk of ID fraud fell within Greater London and the surrounding areas, suggesting that those living in the capital need to be on high alert for identity theft.
While London tops the ID fraud list, the North West is the second most ‘at risk’ region, followed by the North East and the West Midlands. Bootle on the North West, home of many notable Liverpool footballers, is ranked the location second most prone to identity theft. Residents in Northern Ireland are however the least at risk of ID theft in UK.
Owen Roberts, Identity Protection Expert at Callcredit said: “Due to transient populations, the UK’s largest cities are most at risk of ID fraud. Whether you live in city or a village no one is 100% safe from identity theft. Taking simple steps such as shredding documents, protecting your PC and regularly checking your credit report can however help you to stay safe and make life harder for the criminals.
“Data loss and ID fraud has become an all too familiar concept. Becoming a victim of ID fraud can be a devastating experience, so doing all you can to protect yourself is essential. Although there’s plenty of information available on how to stay protected from identity theft, many people are still getting caught out.”
Top 10 postal districts most at risk of ID Fraud
| Rank | Postal districts most at risk of ID Fraud |
| 1 | New Addington, Croydon |
| 2 | Bootle |
| 3 | Purfleet |
| 4 | Higher Folds, Leigh |
| 5 | Northfleet, Gravesend |
| 6 | Tilbury |
| 7 | Greater London |
| 8 | Penrhys, Ferndale |
| 9 | Sheerness |
| 10 | Kirkby, Liverpool |
Regional ranking
| Rank | ID fraud regional hotspots |
| 1 | London |
| 2 | North West |
| 3 | North East |
| 4 | West Midlands |
| 5 | Yorkshire And The Humber |
| 6 | Scotland |
| 7 | East Midlands |
| 8 | Wales |
| 9 | East |
| 10 | South East |
| 11 | South West |
| 12 | Northern Ireland |
Postal districts least at risk of ID Fraud
| Rank | Postal districts least at risk of ID Fraud |
| 1 | Highampton, Beaworthy |
| 2 | Hankerton, Malmesbury |
| 3 | Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham |
| 4 | Broadwell, Rugby |
| 5 | Rosenannon, Bodmin |
Five fascinating facts about Croydon
| Model, Kate Moss was born in Croydon in 1974 |
| Katie Melua, singer, songwriter, musician went to the Brit School for Performing Arts at Selhurst, Croydon |
| Actor, Martin Clunes live in Croydon |
| Psychological illusionist, Derren Brown was born in Croydon in 1971 |
| Croydon plays host to the filming of the popular Channel 4 show, Peep Show. |
Callcredit’s top tips to protect your identity
| Don’t throw your identity in the bin – always shred important documents |
| Keep passwords and PINS safe and don’t disclose them to anyone |
| Don’t broadcast your identity on the internet by failing to protect your PC |
| Keep a note of useful numbers to contact should you suspect you have become a victim of ID fraud |
| Make certain you are watching for warning signs by regularly checking your credit report on www.mycallcredit.co.uk |
Sources:
*using GeoFraud technology from Callcredit.
| Don’t throw your identity in the bin – always shred important documents |
| Keep passwords and PINS safe and don’t disclose them to anyone |
| Don’t broadcast your identity on the internet by failing to protect your PC |
| Keep a note of useful numbers to contact should you suspect you have become a victim of ID fraud |
| Make certain you are watching for warning signs by regularly checking your credit report on www.mycallcredit.co.uk |
For further press information contact: Jane Fordham, Katie Moore or Sophie Smith at the Callcredit Press Office on 0207 067 0600 or callcreditpr@golinharris.com
