Experian’s analysis reveals single people in their 20s and 30s, living in rented accommodation, are the group most likely to become a victim of identity theft and almost twice as likely to be targeted than the national average.
Of all criminal cases of identity theft uncovered between August 2013 and August 2014, almost one in five victims fell into this category (19%).
Nick Mothershaw, UK&I director of identity & fraud at Experian, said: “Previously fraudsters focused on wealthy individuals who offered the richest pickings, but now young renters have also become prime candidates for identity theft. A key reason for this is that rented accommodation is often more easily accessible, and more likely to have shared hallways where it is easier to intercept post.
In addition, there are a growing number of young renters as high property prices, especially in urban areas such as London, have meant that young people cannot afford to buy property. Also this group are prolific users of online services which means the opportunity for identity thieves to gain their personal information will only increase.”
Experian also identifies the locations which are considered prime targets for fraudsters, and warns people in those areas to remain vigilant.
Regional analysis reveals that affluent areas in Greater London, such as Caversham, Beaconsfield, Hertford, Harlow, Brentwood, Maidstone, Crawley, Cobham, Leatherhead, Effingham and Ascot prove to be prime locations for identity theft in 2014.