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The UK's Identity Theft Hot Spots
Londoners are most at risk from Identity Theft
London is the UK's identity theft hot spot, with a quarter of all identity theft cases taking place in the capital this year. Londoners are twice as likely to become victims of this crime than in the average UK region, reveals Experian, the credit reference agency.
More than one in five identity theft cases took place in the South East, and the North West is identified to be the UK's third identity theft hot spot, with one in ten victims living in the region.
Consumers are safest in Northern Ireland, where just 1 per cent of all identity theft cases took place, just over a third of the UK regional average. The South West and Scotland are the second and third safest spots in the UK.
To see if you've become a victim of fraud and to help prevent future attacks, you may want to get a copy of your credit report from a credit reference agency such as Experian or Equifax.
CreditExpert, from Experian, the UK's only online personal credit report monitoring service is available through Yahoo! on a free, no-obligation 30-day trial basis. Members have real-time online access to their credit report and are alerted every time important changes take place. Click here to find out more.
The UK's Identity Theft League Table
Region |
% of Total Identity Theft Cases |
Index |
1. Greater London |
25% |
200 |
2. South East |
22% |
116 |
3. North West |
11% |
105 |
4. East Anglia |
3% |
89 |
4. North |
5% |
89 |
5. Yorkshire and the Humber |
7% |
84 |
6. East Midlands |
6% |
81 |
7. Wales |
4% |
73 |
7. West Midlands |
6% |
73 |
8. Scotland |
6% |
68 |
9. South West |
4% |
51 |
10. Northern Ireland |
1% |
35 |
NB: The average index figure is 100. Higher index figures indicate there are more than the average number of victims of identity theft in that region and an index below 100, less than average. The league table is compiled by the percentage of the UK's victims of identity theft in each region as a proportion of the adult population in each region.
London's Identity Theft Hot Spots
North Londoners most at risk from Identity Theft
One in four of the UK's stolen identity cases took place in the capital in the last year and Enfield is London's top identity theft hot spot, reveals credit reference agency Experian. Enfield residents are more than twice as likely to become victims of identity theft than in the average London borough.
Bexley and Harrow are the second and third London boroughs most at risk from identity theft, with residents more likely to be victims of identity theft in these areas than any other London borough. Spelthorne, Redbridge and Hackney are also in the top six boroughs favoured by identity fraudsters.
London's Identity Theft League Table (Top Ten Identity Theft Hotspots by Borough)
London borough |
% of Total Identity Theft Cases |
Index |
1. Enfield |
6% |
194 |
2. Bexley |
4% |
189 |
3. Harrow |
5% |
182 |
4. Spelthorne |
2% |
147 |
5. Redbridge |
4% |
146 |
5. Hackney |
3% |
146 |
6. Elmbridge |
3% |
145 |
7. Islington |
2% |
144 |
8. South Bucks |
2% |
132 |
9. Barnet |
5% |
131 |
10. Lewisham |
4% |
126 |
NB: The average index figure is 100. Higher index figures indicate there are more than the average number of victims of identity theft in that borough and an index below 100, less than average. The league table is compiled by the percentage of London's victims of identity theft in each borough as a proportion of the adult population in each borough.
More on Identity Theft:
The UK's identity theft hot spots
Identity theft: A nightmare come true
More identity theft prevention tips
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