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Birmingham is the West Midlands Identity Theft hotspot says new research

16 October 2006

Individuals in Birmingham are significantly more vulnerable to ID theft than people living elsewhere in the West Midlands, according to research conducted by credit reference agency Callcredit.

The research, carried out in support of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week (16th - 22nd October) revealed rates of ID theft in Birmingham that are around 40 per cent higher than the average for the West Midlands.

For every thousand adults living in Birmingham 1.4 will be a victim of ID theft, compared to a regional average of one theft per thousand adults.

The West Midlands, along with the North West, are the fourth most affected regions in the UK when it comes to ID thefts. London, East England and the South East all have higher rates of identity theft, while the East Midlands has a slightly lower rate at 0.9 thefts per thousand adults. (See attached table for further statistics.)
 
Callcredit director Mel Mitchley says: “ID theft is one of the fastest growing types of fraud in the UK.  But it is also one of the most preventable if people take a few simple precautions.

“Our research revealed that the average incidence of ID theft in London was 3.7 per 1000 adult population, more than twice as high as any other region in  the UK.

“Excluding the capital, the UK average is one theft per 1000 adults, so the West Midlands is about average, although there are significant differences within the region.

“Some areas like Birmingham have relatively high rates of ID theft, while other postal areas record levels well below average. For example, Shrewsbury has only 0.4 victims of ID theft per 1000 adults, an incident rate ranked in the lowest 10 per cent of the UK.”

Mrs Mitchley continued: “The National Identity Fraud Prevention Week is designed to stimulate debate about the growing threat of ID theft and provide individuals with the tools they need to make sure they are safe. Only with a combined effort between the police, lenders and individuals will we be able to beat the criminals.”

Victim Profile

Analysis of the areas with the highest incidence of ID theft confirms fraudsters are most likely to target people living in relatively affluent neighbourhoods who typically have a higher than average number of financial products including credit facilities. These areas are ideal territory for ID thieves as the residents are able to access credit easily – with very few details an ID thief can also access or apply for facilities fraudulently.

What is ID theft

ID theft is an all-encompassing term for different types of fraud committed in another person’s name. Typical examples include using stolen personal details to apply for credit cards, obtain mobile phone contracts or goods on credit.  But it can also be when someone takes over your identity completely and applies for loans, mortgages, passports or a driving license in your name.

By following our guidelines people can protect themselves from all types of impersonation fraud and minimise the time and hassle involved in restoring their credit file to its correct state.

How to protect yourself from ID thieves

• Keep your personal and confidential documents secure
• Always shred, using a confetti cut shredder, before disposing of documentation – bank and credit card statements, utility bills, receipts, direct mail containing  personal information, mortgage applications etc
• Cancel unused credit facilities.
• Don’t give personal information to anyone, however legitimate they may seem, without first confirming who they are and why they want the information.
• Check your credit file regularly and sign up to a service which alerts you to any changes on your credit file – often the first indication you will have that a fraudster has got hold of your ID.
• When you move home, redirect your mail to your new address by contacting Royal Mail Redirection Service on 0845 7740 740, visiting your local post office or www.royalmail.com
• Never give out any personal information to unidentified individuals or organisations who contact you by phone, email or face-to-face
• If you have been a victim of identity fraud contact your nearest police station or visit www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/

• If you think you have been a victim of identity fraud you should consider subscribing to the CIFAS Protective Registration service.  A notice will be placed on your credit file indicating that documents have been stolen and that you may therefore be at risk of identity fraud. To register by telephone call 0870 010 2091

• If you have information about identity fraud, contact the police or call Crimestoppers to give information anonymously on 0800 555 111

Further statistics:

Postal areas within the West Midlands:

Town	ID theft incidence per 1,000 18 plus population	Overall rank (out of 121)
Birmingham	1.42	33
Coventry	1.20	41
Wolverhampton	0.95	57
Walsall	0.74	72
Hereford	0.72	75
Worcester	0.72	77
Stoke-On-Trent	0.71	78
Dudley	0.69	81
Telford	0.63	87
Shrewsbury	0.42	113

Regional ID theft ranking with regional hotspot

Region (worst to best)	Regional Hotspot	ID theft incidence per 1,000 18 plus population
London	North London	3.74
East	St Albans	1.63
South East	Dartford	1.45
North West	Manchester	1.07
West Midlands	Birmingham	1.03
East Midlands	Northampton	0.89
Yorkshire/ the Humber	Huddersfield	0.81
Scotland	Glasgow	0.71
South West	Bristol	0.66
Wales	Cardiff	0.61
North East	Sunderland	0.54
Northern Ireland	Belfast	0.32

Editors notes

1. The research relates to actual victims of ID theft between May 2005-2006 provided by CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, analysed per 1000 population. Under 18s and anyone living in communal establishments such as prisons were deducted from the postal area headcounts. The findings were broken down by the 121 main postal areas in the UK .
2. It analysed the geodemographic distribution of ID thefts using CAMEO, a consumer geodemographic classification system developed by sister company EuroDirect.

About Callcredit

1. Callcredit(www.callcredit.co.uk) is the UK's most technologically advanced credit reference agency, providing the market with a comprehensive range of consumer credit information services.
2. Callcredit has harnessed state-of-the-art information technology with an unrivalled knowledge of the industry's needs to develop a range of innovative information solutions. Solutions that are enabling major lenders and a host of other blue chip companies to address regulatory requirements, make better credit decisions, target new customers more effectively and manage existing customers more profitably.
3. Callcredit forms part of the Skipton Information Group, together with database management company EuroDirect and market analysis firm GMAP Consulting.

About MyCallcredit

• MyCallcredit provides consumers with online access to the details of their credit file at http://www.mycallcredit.com/
• The E-alerts service from MyCallcredit monitors consumers credit reports and informs them of any changes, good or bad. A 30-day free trial of this service is available at www.myfreecreditreport.co.uk
• A one off report costs £8.95.
• An annual subscription giving 12 months unlimited access costs £34.99, or £44.99 including the E-alert service.
• is the consumer arm of credit reference agency Callcredit.

About National Identity Fraud Prevention Week  

National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, seeks to break the complacency found amongst the British public, and runs from the 16th – 22nd October with information on what the public can do to fight identity fraud.

This awareness drive has been put in place by an expert group of public and private sector partners, including the Metropolitan Police (and other regional police forces), Crimestoppers, The Identity Fraud Consumer Awareness Group, The Information and Passport Service, CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Fellowes, the Federation of Small Businesses, Callcredit, Equifax and Experian.

For further press information contact: Steve Clark or Kate Pell at Source Marketing Communications, Aspect Court, 47 Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2NL. Tel: 0113 380 1644, Fax: 0113 380 1630, E-mail: steve@sourcemc.co.uk or kate@sourcemc.co.uk

For more press information contact:
Steve Clark or Jo Gill at Source Marketing Communications, Aspect Court, 47 Park Square East, Leeds, LS1 2NL. Tel: 0113 380 1644, Fax: 0113 380 1630, E-mail: steve@sourcemc.co.uk or jo@sourcemc.co.uk

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