Wycombe in top ten of ID fraud hotspots (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe in top ten of ID fraud hotspots

10:30am Monday 7th May 2012 in High Wycombe By Simon Farr

HIGH Wycombe is in the top ten of the country’s worst identity fraud hotspots, according to figures released by Experian.

Fraudsters struck 13 in every 10,000 households in the Wycombe area – placing the town seventh on the unwanted top ten list, the report states.

Slough topped the list, followed by London, Gravesend, Birmingham, Luton and Manchester.

Experts say identity thieves are targeting people living in rented accommodation, those on low incomes and heavy internet users.

Peter Turner, Managing Director at Experian Interactive, said: “Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

“They are now targeting groups that they know to be vulnerable, such as people in rented accommodation or on low incomes.

“We’re also seeing young professionals who are heavy internet users being targeted.

“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.”

To avoid becoming a victim of identity fraud, Experian CreditExpert has issued the following tips:

Be smart with your smartphone - Be careful what information is stored on your phone – including emails that can be accessed without a password. You should also be wary of security settings if you access public Wi-Fi hotspots, especially if you use your phone to bank online.

Don’t reveal too much on social networking sites - Fraudsters use personal details like date of birth, age, maiden names or pets’ names to guess private passwords.

Keep pins and passwords private - Memorise details rather than writing them down and never give account details to anyone else. Use different passwords for different accounts and try to avoid easily guessed names.

Keep your firewalls and security settings up to date Read your bank statements for irregularities - And if you receive paper statements, be sure to shred them.

Check your credit report regularly - It’s a history of all your credit accounts and will highlight any irregularities such as suspect applications for credit and rises in card balances.

If an email seems suspicious, contact the relevant organisation and don’t give out personal details. Your bank, credit card provider and any reputable business will never ask for confirmation of details by email.