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2007 saw a huge leap in identity fraud according to Experian. In 2007 6,000 new identity fraud victims contacted their victims of fraud team compared to 3,500 in 2006. This represent a 66% increase in fraud cases reported to Experian alone. Having analysed 10,000 identity fraud cases Experian has been able to produce its most accurate propensity model ever. As a result they have been able to identify those most likely to fall victim to identity fraud as well as the UK’s identity fraud hotspots – those areas of the UK that contain the highest proportion of at risk residents. As may have been expected London remains identity fraud capital of the UK. Residents in the capital are on average twice as likely to fall victim to identity fraud than any other part of the UK. Kensington is the capital’s identity fraud hotspot with residents three and a half times more likely to become a victim than the national average. Residents of Richmond-Upon-Thames, Putney, Wimbledon and the Kings Road area in Chelsea are also amongst those most at risk of identity fraud. Further analysis carried out by postcode reveals other identity fraud enclaves where residents are at an extraordinarily high risk of identity fraud. Residents living in SW17 6 postal sector, which centres on College Gardens in Tooting, South London, need to be very wary of identity fraud as they are a massive 5 times more likely to become a victim than the national average. Outside of London there are some pockets of high risk areas where the risk is 4 times the national average. These include CB23 5 postal sector, Great Cambourne – near Cambridge and NN4 5 (Far Cotton, Northampton) and TS17 5 (Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-On-Tees). In terms of who is most likely to fall victim Experian goes on to explain that the victims are more likely to be aged between 26 and 45, amongst the highest earners and be homeowners. Those earning over £50,000 per annum are almost 3 times more likely to become a victim than those on the national average income. Those at the pinnacle of their career either at director level or running their own business are 3 times more vulnerable. On the other hand those that are renting, either privately or from local authorities, are also at high risk, especially where mailboxes are shared or those that move frequently than homeowners making it easier for fraudsters to misuse credit histories that have not been updated. As for the fraud itself, forward address fraud is by far the most common form of identity theft fraud, representing 36% of identity fraud. This fraud is carried out by fraudsters who arrange for the victims mail to be forwarded to a drop address where he/she can collect the mail whenever they wish and receive bank statements, credit card statements etc. Present address fraud has actually fallen to 30%. Helen Lord, Director of Fraud and Compliance at Experian has warned that the sudden increase in identity fraud is similar to the increase in known organised crime in this sector with specialists working the system. She also pointed out that whilst they have identified those most at risk we are all at risk and should all take the matter far more seriously. Regular checks of your credit file is one way to ensure that nothing untoward is going on and identify problems very early on. If you register with my blog, buy a copy of my book or sign up to receive free training videos you will receive a free eBook giving lots of advice on how to avoid identity fraud and what to do if you become a victim