Public told not to be victims of identity fraud
The public are not disposing of their personal information properly and are therefore putting themselves at risk of becoming victims of identity fraud, according to new warnings.
With National Identity Fraud Prevention Week having now commenced, UK credit reference agency Experian has claimed that most consumers are simply not doing enough to protect themselves from fraud.
Research has found that more people are not disposing of their personal information properly, with the number of bins containing bank account numbers and sort codes rising by as much as 20 per cent.
Jill Stevens, director of consumer affairs at Experian, commented: 'Since Experian first conducted research into bin raiding in Nottingham in March 2002 and then again in the Borough of Camden, London, in December 2003, we have been consistently warning householders of the importance of disposing of their personal information responsibly, preferably by shredding it.'
Experian also suggests that consumers should check their receipts against their cards and bank statements carefully and to monitor the information on their credit reports.
Furthermore, they advise consumers not to disclose personal or financial details to anyone cold-calling, or on any websites that do not display bone fide logos of secure payment systems. | 
