Over recent years we have all seen – and some of us have experienced – the problems that can arise from the theft of personal documentation, such as bank statements, credit card and bank account information, passports, driving licences, birth certificates, etc. When a fraudster manages to get hold of such personal documentation the repercussions can be serious for the victim, causing them untold hassle, stress, and even financial losses.

However, whilst many of us are all too aware that fraudsters can use this personal information in all sorts of ingenious ways in order to make money, leaving the victim to bear the consequences, many Brits are still failing to take precautions, leading many to believe that many Brits may have a false sense of security. However, the concerns over the safety of personal data has been clearly seen from the panic that has followed massive data loss blunders over recent months, such as the loss of 25 million bank account details by HM Revenue and Customs last year.

The identity theft firm CPP has recently carried out research that showed that whilst 75% of us are well aware that fraudsters are stealing personal documents and using them to make money and commit criminal offences, only one third of Brits take precautions by keeping these sorts of documents safely under lock and key. The other two thirds, who seem to have a far more lax attitude towards the whole issue, could far more easily find themselves becoming the victims of fraud and identity theft.

The research went on to show that only 25% of Brits would immediately notice if their passport went missing, and only 20% of us would know straight away if our birth certificate had disappeared. Whilst the document that would be most missed would be a driving licence, it was noted that only one third of Brits would immediately notice if their driving licence went missing.

The research suggested that many Brits were under a false sense of security, and a massive 92% of Brits thought their homes were secure against burglary. However, with 15% having already been burgled in the past, many may falsely believe that they are far more secure than they actually are. Officials state that it is now more important than ever for consumers to ensure the safety of their personal documentation, as the average cost per identity has soared to £8000, with fraudsters engaging in such activities as taking out multiple lines of credit using the false identity.

One official from CPP stated: “Don’t leave personal information lying around the house. We have had cases of ID theft where friends, neighbours and even family have stolen personal documents and taken out big loans, mail order and credit cards.”

He also stated that the number of identity theft incidents were on the rise, and this meant that there was an increase risk of consumers becoming victims of this crime if they do not take necessary precautions to protect their personal documentation.

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