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Identity Fraud — Your Identity, Their Crime

A criminal steals enough of your personal information to pretend to be you. They open bank accounts, take out loans, claim benefits, rent property, and commit crimes in your name. By the time you find out, your credit is destroyed and you could be investigated for crimes you did not commit.

📊 The Scale of Identity Fraud

1 in 8

UK adults have been identity fraud victims

£4.2B

Lost to identity fraud annually in the UK

296K

Identity fraud cases reported in 2024

72%

of identity fraud starts with a stolen document or data breach

Sources: Cifas, UK Finance Fraud Report 2025, ONS Crime Survey 2024.

🪪 Documents Fraudsters Target Most

These are the documents criminals want most. Each one unlocks a different type of fraud.

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Passport

The single most valuable document. A stolen passport lets criminals open offshore accounts, travel under your name, and commit international fraud.

⚠ What they do: Apply for loans, rent property abroad, open bank accounts in your name. Stolen passports sell for £500-£2,000 on the dark web.

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Driving Licence

Used as proof of address and age. A stolen licence lets fraudsters open bank accounts, apply for credit, and claim benefits in your name.

⚠ What they do: Use it as proof of ID for online loans, hire cars and disappear, change the photo and use as fake ID abroad. The DVLA issued 40,000+ replacement licences in 2024 due to theft or loss.

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Bank Statement

Used as proof of address. Criminals use stolen bank statements to prove "you" live somewhere, then redirect your mail to them.

⚠ What they do: Redirect your post, apply for credit in your name, open new accounts, order replacement cards to a different address.

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National Insurance Number

Used to claim benefits and work. A stolen NI number lets criminals claim Universal Credit, tax credits, or work illegally.

⚠ What they do: Claim benefits in your name (which you may be asked to repay later), work illegally using your identity, file fake tax returns for refunds.

🔍 How Identity Theft Happens

📬 Mail Theft

Post stolen from communal hallways, letterboxes, or redirected to a criminal address.

📱 Data Breaches

Companies you trust get hacked. Your name, address, DOB, and bank details get sold on the dark web.

🎣 Phishing

Fake emails, texts, or calls trick you into handing over passwords and personal details.

🗑 Dumpster Diving

Bins raided for bank statements, bills, and documents with personal details. Shred everything.

📱 Phone Theft

Unlocked phone = access to your email, banking, social media, and stored photos of documents.

🏠 Burglary

Physical theft of passports, driving licences, bank cards, and laptops from homes and cars.

🛡 How to Protect Your Identity

Shred Everything

Buy a cross-cut shredder. Shred bank statements, bills, receipts, medical letters, and any document with your name, address, or date of birth. Do not just rip them up. Criminals piece together torn documents.

Secure Your Documents at Home

Keep your passport, driving licence, birth certificate, and National Insurance card in a lockable document safe or safety deposit box. Do not carry your passport with you unless you are travelling. Take photos of both sides of each document and store them in a secure, encrypted location (not just on your phone).

Never Share Photos of Your Documents Online

Do not send a photo of your passport or driving licence to anyone who asks for it without verifying who they are. Scammers ask for "ID verification" to access fake jobs, rentals, or loans. If a landlord, employer, or website asks for a copy of your ID, ask why they need it and how they will store it securely.

Check Your Credit Report Regularly

You can check your credit report for free with ClearScore, Experian, or TransUnion. Look for credit applications, accounts, or searches you do not recognise. If you see something suspicious, report it to the credit reference agency immediately and they can put a fraud alert on your file.

If you have been a victim of identity fraud or are at high risk, Cifas Protective Registration puts a marker on your credit file. Any organisation checking your identity will see the marker and take extra steps to verify it is really you. It costs £25 for 2 years. Apply at cifas.org.uk.

Secure Your Phone and Email

Your email is the master key to your identity. Use strong unique passwords (password manager). Turn on Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your email, banking, and social media. Lock your phone with a strong PIN, not a pattern. If your phone is stolen, remote wipe it immediately.

Redirect Royal Mail When Moving

When you move house, set up a Royal Mail redirection for at least 12 months. Do not just change your address with each company individually. Stolen post is one of the most common ways identity fraud starts. A redirection costs about £40 for 12 months.

If Your Documents Are Stolen

Lost or stolen passport — report immediately via GOV.UK and apply to cancel it. Lost driving licence — report to DVLA immediately online. Stolen bank cards — call your bank and cancel. Stolen mail — report to Royal Mail and Action Fraud. Act fast. Every hour counts.

⚠ Warning Signs — How to Spot Identity Fraud Early

🔴 Bills or bank statements stop arriving. Someone may have changed your address.
🔴 You are refused credit unexpectedly despite having a good credit history.
🔴 Bank accounts or credit cards you did not open appear on your credit report.
🔴 Letters from debt collectors for debts you did not incur.
🔴 HMRC tells you about a tax refund or employment when you are not self-employed.
🔴 The police contact you about a crime committed in your name.

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Helplines & Resources

Cifas Protective Registration: cifas.org.uk — £25 for 2 years
Action Fraud (report identity fraud): 0300 123 2040
Victim Support: 0808 168 9111
Experian Credit Freeze: experian.co.uk
ClearScore (free credit check): clearscore.com
DVLA lost licence: gov.uk/report-lost-licence
Lost passport: gov.uk/report-lost-passport
Royal Mail redirection: royalmail.com/redirection

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