Identity fraud figures

Identity fraud is still a comparatively rare type of crime, but it is a crime that can be very worrying for the victims.

Cases of identity fraud reported by CIFAS Members are as follows:

Costs

There are difficulties in accurately measuring the impact of fraud in the UK in general, as only detected fraud is recorded.  However, some of the available figures show that:

It is also worth noting that, whereas statistics may distinguish between fraud against the public and private sectors, fraudsters are not so choosy: the same stolen identity can be used in applications for loans and credit cards, and for multiple benefit claims, tax evasion etc.

Victims

Identity theft is definitely not a victimless crime. In 2009, CIFAS identified and protected over 85,000 victims of identity theft.

For those victims, in one-off cases, perhaps involving one fraudulent application or transaction, the damage to the victim may be minimal, but fraudsters who comprehensively steal an identity can cause unquantifiable distress to the victims.

It can take between 3 and 48 hours of work for typical victims to sort out their lives and clear their names and, in cases where a 'total hijack' has occurred involving 20-30 different organisations, it may take a victim over 200 hours before things are back to normal. They may also suffer considerable damage to their credit status, which may then affect their ability to obtain finance or insurance - even a mortgage may be temporarily compromised.

Far more difficult to describe are the feelings of unease and distress that being a victim will cause: many victims describing emotions such as distrust, fear, and paranoia. Please click here and refer to 'Victims of Identity Fraud' to read further some of the stories of victims who have contacted CIFAS.

For more information, please select from the following options:

Identity Fraud: your identity

What is identity fraud?

How do I avoid being a victim?/Advice for victims