Stratford, the London area which will host the 2012 Olympics, has one of the highest rates of identity fraud cases in the UK, Experian has revealed.
London has been identified as home to seven of the 10 worst areas for the crime, with Woolwich in South-East London identified as the worst area. East Ham came in second place, followed by Victoria Street in third and Lewisham in fourth with Cheapside, Tooting and Stratford, also in the top ten.
And there are signs that identity fraud’s tentacles are reaching beyond London, with commuter towns Reading (6th) and Ilford (7th) hovering outside the top five.
Central Manchester (38th) leads the way for identity fraud in major cities outside London, followed by Birmingham (47th).
The research was conducted by CreditExpert on behalf of Experian as part of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, and the firm has gone as far as to erect sign posts across the capital to warn consumers of the dangers of ID fraud.
Peter Turner, managing director at Experian Interactive, says: “In tough times, your personal information is one of the most valuable assets you have. Identity fraud is one of the UK’s fastest-growing crimes. Fraudsters target groups that they know to be vulnerable and London contains a high proportion of such people. These include the obviously wealthy, who have access to multiple sources of credit; young professionals who are heavy internet users and who often rent shared accommodation, so move around a great deal; and people in rented accommodation on low incomes, who are often targeted for small amounts and who are most vulnerable to the effects of identity theft.
“But some simple steps can protect you. Be cautious about what information you give out and what links you click on, and keep abreast of bank statements and your credit report, which will alert you to any irregular transactions or applications in your name.”
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