Are you a fraudster’s favourite target?

Identity fraudsters in the UK are turning their attention to young professionals, according to new research from CreditExpert, the ID fraud protection service from Experian.

The report reveals that criminals looking to steal identities have moved from targeting the wealthy to going after lower income victims living in rented houses and flats in and around cities. Of these, the group most at risk are young professionals renting property in London and Glasgow, where they will find themselves twice as likely to become victims of identity fraud than the average person.

The second biggest target group for identity fraudsters are young, single people and home sharers working in service industries and living in flats rented predominantly from the council or housing associations. Graduates renting in good areas while saving for a mortgage deposit are the third most likely group to become victims of ID fraud.

The report suggests that people who rent or have shared hallways are considered easier targets because mail interception is easier and because renters tend to move more often than home owners fail to redirect their mail.

The Credit Expert research also identified the UK’s identity fraud hotspots where the highest proportions of at-risk residents live. London was found to be the identity fraud capital of the UK, with residents almost four times as likely to fall victim compared with the average score across the UK. Outside London, commuter towns such as St Albans, Guildford and Windsor also have high concentrations of the most at-risk consumer types.

Darryl Bowman, Director of CreditExpert, said:

“Criminals are switching their focus from the wealthy to people whose details they can get hold of more easily. Because of this, each one of us needs to be aware of the dangers of ID fraud and take steps to protect our identity and stop thieves from getting access to our personal information. One thing you can do is regularly check your credit report so you can spot unfamiliar activity, such as a fraudulent loan application in your name.”