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Identity fraud 'threat is growing in UK'

21 October 2011

Companies should ensure they adhere to data protection regulations in the UK as the threat of identity fraud is a growing one.

This is the claim made by the Identity Fraud Communications Awareness Group (IFCAG), which has stated that ID theft is continuing, as criminals look for different ways to carry it out.

Chair of the organization, Neil Munroe, was commenting during National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, which runs from October 17th to 21st this year.

According to Mr Munroe, organizations - as well as individuals - should respond to the growing threat in order to tackle the increased risk posed by e-crime and phishing.

He added: "The more that [businesses] embrace new technology to process orders et cetera, the more they need to make sure that they are dealing with genuine customers."

His remarks come as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reported that a private housing group in Dorset placed personal details at risk.

The watchdog took action after Spectrum Housing Group accidentally emailed a spreadsheet containing data relating to 200 employees to the wrong address in March 2011.

As the document was not secure, the information was placed at risk and the incident breached the Data Protection Act.

An investigation by the ICO found insufficient safeguards in place at Spectrum to prevent such problems occurring and ordered the organization to take action to improve its policies. A formal undertaking is now in place regarding personal data.

"This case highlights the need for organisations to make sure that adequate checks are in place and documents suitably protected before they are sent out," commenting Sally Anne Poole, ICO Acting Head of Enforcement.

A study conducted by Fellowes to mark National Identity Fraud Prevention Week found that the number of victims of the crime is continuing to grow, with seven per cent of the UK population thought to have been affected.