Approximately a third of UK employees dispose of sensitive data in the bin without shredding it, according to a recent study.

Research conducted as a part of National Identity Fraud Prevention week found that three-quarters of workers believed that their employers weren’t doing enough to protect their customers’ sensitive information.

The UK currently spends more than £1.2bn on identity fraud each year with approximately 60,000 people already targeted this year.

Theives use peoples sensitive information to apply for credit or benefits in their victims’ names and gangs are even selling peoples personal information on the black market.

As a part of a survey of 1000 people, 36% were unaware of any policies that their company had in place for handing and disposing of sensitive information.

The survey also found that 64% of people fail to shred their personal documents before disposing of them at home.

Approximately 12% of people questioned failed to use any security software whilst surfing the net at home and a mere 21% checked their credit report to see if anybody had been making applications for credit in their name.

Less than 50% of people questioned, chased up mail that was expected but hadn’t arrived.

Tyron Hill, a spokesman for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, stated that the threat of identity fraud was “real and current.”

“People are either naive or they continue to ignore the advice that could keep their identity, their finances and their reputation safe,” he said.

“Even simple steps, like thoroughly shredding any documents with your name and address on them, will help to minimise your exposure.”

Identity fraud is continuing to rise rapidly, with experts believing it is no coincidence that we are currently in a recession.

The act of taking over an account rather than creating a new one has tripled in the past two years.

The fraud prevention service, CIFAS, have reported that 81% of us are concerned that we will be targeted by identity theives.

The two most common places for identity theft in the UK are South east London and Birmingham, 2,680 and 2,111 cases so far this year, respectively. Wales has the lowest number of identity fraud cases with the south-east England having the highest.

CIFAS Chief Executive Peter Hurst is extremely concerned, stating that ”fraud is an insidious crime. Not only does it affect consumers and businesses financially, but its impact in terms of reputation, trust and time are unquantifiable.”

The National Identity Fraud Prevention Week takes place from the 12 to 19 October.

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