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Find out how to stop the ID fraudsters
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ID fraud can cost you more than money - it can ruin your credit rating, making it hard to buy a home or get a credit card. Our real-life examples show how easy it is for ID thieves to strike
The Angela Hargreaves case is the latest ID fraud story to hit the headlines. One famous victim was comedian Alistair McGowan, who had loads of personal information stolen from his rubbish. Fortunately the “ID thieves” in his case were Daily Mirror reporters and his details were returned – but not everyone is so lucky.
Earlier this year, conman Ian Pass was sentenced to four years at Hove Crown Court for a series of identity thefts. The crook – who shamelessly changed his name to I.D. Pass – claims to have made £2.5 million through fraud.
Stolen lives
Even the experts can fall victim to ID fraud. Which? editor Malcolm Coles said a researcher was able to ‘steal’ his identity easily. The fraudster got hold of Coles’s birth certificate, his birthplace and address and his mother’s maiden name simply by using light fingers and a little detective work.
An attempt to access his credit card account was only foiled because Malcolm hadn’t got around to telling his bank he’d moved house. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was for someone to assume my identity. If this is what an amateur can do, imagine how easy it is for an experienced criminal,” he says.
Last updated 13 June 2005
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