What is identity crime?

Identity crime is a generic term for identity theft, creating a false identity or committing identity fraud.

What does identity theft cost the UK?

The 2002 Cabinet Office Study, which covered the use of false identities and the theft of other people's identities, estimated that crime facilitated by identity fraud cost the UK £1.3 billion per annum.

The Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee has completed a one-off exercise to update the Cabinet Office estimate for the purpose of establishing trends in the cost of identity fraud over the past three years. The latest estimate is that identity fraud costs the UK economy £1.7 billion. As with the previous study, it represents a best estimate of the scale of the problem. Click here for a detailed breakdown of the new estimate.

What is being done about identity theft in the UK?

The Home Office, in collaboration with other government departments and private sector organisations, has set up the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee to lead a cross public/private sector work programme to tackle identity theft and identity fraud. The programme co-ordinates existing activity in the public and private sectors and identifies new projects and initiatives to reduce identity crime.

Click here for more information.

How does a criminal get my personal information?

Criminals commit identity theft by stealing your personal information and then pretending to be you. This is often done by taking documents from your rubbish or by making contact with you and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation.

What does a criminal do with my personal information?

Once a criminal has the information he needs he could for example:

• apply for a credit card in your name;
• open a bank or building society account in your name;
• apply for other financial services in your name;
• run up debts (e.g. use your credit/debit card details to make purchase) or obtain a loan in your name;
• apply for any benefits in your name (e.g. housing benefit, new tax credits, income support, job seeker’s allowance, child benefit);
• apply for a driving licence in your name;
• register a vehicle in your name;
• apply for a passport in your name; or
• apply for a mobile phone contract in your name.

How can I protect myself from becoming a victim of identity theft?

Click here to see how you can protect yourself.
Click here for the Home Office identity theft leaflet.

What do I do if I become a victim of identity theft?

Click here for information on what you should do if you become a victim of identity theft.
Click here for the Home Office identity theft leaflet.

If I’m a victim, am I responsible for any fraudulent credit card or bank transactions?

If you have been a victim of identity fraud and your card is still in your possession, you should not have to pay for anything bought on it without your permission (subject to the terms and conditions of your account). If your card has been lost or stolen, you will usually not have to pay, unless it can be shown that you have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, for example by keeping your PIN number written down with your card. The same applies to any money lost through fraudulent bank transactions.

How can I tell if I’m a victim of identity theft?

You may become a victim of identity theft if:

• you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence; or
• post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all.

You may already be a victim of identity theft if:

• items have appeared on your bank or credit card statements that you do not recognise;
• you applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming;
• you receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven’t asked for;
• you have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history;
• a mobile phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge; or
• you have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours.

Click here for the Home Office identity theft leaflet.

Who can I contact for more information? / Who can help me?

Click here for contact information.

Please note the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee takes no responsibility for the information provided in external websites.