UK, 21 November, 2023: Identity fraud rose by more than a fifth this year, amid warnings that fraudulent activity is set to peak over the Christmas shopping period
New analysis from Experian reveals that identity fraud rose by 22% in 2023, when compared to 2022, with the trend expected to be at its peak over November and December.
Last year, the fraud rate for credit card fraud was 43% higher in November, compared to the monthly average rate. Fraudsters will typically deploy a multi-channel approach to seduce people into giving up their personal information through emails, text messages and phone calls. Personal information is readily available for purchase on the Dark Web, giving criminals an easy opportunity to attempt to access credit using stolen details.
Eduardo Castro, Managing Director Identity and Fraud, Experian UK&I, said: “The cost of being scammed by a fraudster is not just financial, as victims experience substantial distress too.
“Identity theft and fraud is increasingly prevalent in the UK, and it’s never been more important for people to think twice about their personal information. All unsolicited messages should be approached cautiously unless they are sure it’s genuine, and if there is an offer online which seems too good to be true, it more than likely is.”
Figures from UK Finance reveal fraud cost British consumers £580 million in the first six months of 2023.
Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, where a victim is tricked – typically through a phone call, text message, or email – into transferring money to a fraudster, has more incidents of fraud than any other crime type in the UK and costs consumers £239 million. However, there are signs of encouragement, with advanced anti-fraud prevention systems deployed by banks preventing £651 million from being lost.
To encourage people to look after their personal information and for businesses to think about their fraud risk, Experian has launched a new social media awareness campaign, featuring a scammed Father Christmas.
He calls in at his local police station to report his identity being stolen, revealing to the sympathetic but confused police officer that he’s been careless with his personal information.
Castro adds: “Better public awareness of scams and new technology being deployed by businesses across multiple sectors means criminals are facing new challenges.
“However, fraudsters are always looking at new ways to exploit people’s information. The fraud epidemic is a constantly evolving battle, so there is no room for complacency when it comes to prevention.”
Experian is a market leader in fraud prevention technology and it has prevented more than £1.9 billion of fraudulent transactions in the last 12 months, identifying a fraudulent application every minute of every day.
ENDS
To view our Christmas fraud film, ‘Santa Gets Scammed’, visit https://www.experian.co.uk/business/regulation-and-fraud/fraud-at-christmas?utm_source=landingpage&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=UKI-24-COMP-P2-INT-X-X-PRChristmas2023&utm_content=PRsanta_LP_PR-video-1-video-PressRelease
Analysis based on data from the National Hunter Fraud Prevention Service.
Media contact:
Robert Goodman, PR Manager, Corporate & Business, UK&I, Experian
Tel: +44 7989 398 498 / Email: Robert.Goodman@Experian.com
About Experian
Experian is the world’s leading global information services company. During life’s big moments – from buying a home or a car, to sending a child to college, to growing a business by connecting with new customers – we empower consumers and our clients to manage their data with confidence. We help individuals to take financial control and access financial services, businesses to make smarter decisions and thrive, lenders to lend more responsibly, and organisations to prevent identity fraud and crime.
We have 22,000 people operating across 32 countries and every day we’re investing in new technologies, talented people, and innovation to help all our clients maximise every opportunity. With corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, we are listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and are a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
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