Beware ID fraud in London

Monday, 24 October 2011 8:44 AM

Londoners need to be vigilant of identity fraud, as a new report finds seven of the 10 worst areas for this crime are in the capital.

Analysis from CreditExpert by Experian released for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week found Woolwich, in South East London, saw the highest proportion of identity fraud cases in the country in the last year.

Six other London areas were in the top ten. East Ham in second place and Victoria Street in third. Lewisham (4th), Cheapside (5th), Tooting (8th) and Stratford (10th) complete the capital’s identity crime roll call.

Peter Turner, Managing Director at Experian Interactive, said: “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.”

To keep your identity safe, the CreditExpert recommend the following.

Don’t keep too much information on your smartphone or on social networking sites. Keep pins and passwords private and keep firewalls and security settings up to date on your PC. Read your bank statements for irregularities and check your credit report regularly.

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