Figures reveal Yorkshire’s fraud landscape

They reveal that over 55,000 personal frauds were linked to addresses across Yorkshire with the postcode districts of Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford particularly affected.

The figures show the number of frauds linked to addresses across Yorkshire throughout 2012 including identity frauds, scams where somebody takes over somebody’s account and uses it to launder money or buy goods, and where somebody includes false details when applying for mortgages or loans.

In the Sheffield postcode district 13,083 frauds were recorded by CIFAS, which collates fraud figures from members that include banks, mail order and savings and investments companies, while in the Bradford postcode area there were 7,579 frauds and in Leeds there were 11,452.

In comparison only 981 frauds were recorded in the Harrogate area, while 1,518 were reported in the Halifax postcode area.

In York there were a total of 2,899 frauds, while in the Huddersfield postcode area there were 4,517 cases reported.

In Hull there were 3,859 cases and in the Doncaster postcode area there were 5,138.

Experts say that urban areas are attractive to fraudsters because they allow them to operate under a greater cloak of anonymity, in smaller communities their actions would stand out far more.

An analysis of overall fraud trends throughout the UK during 2012 by CIFAS reveals a five per cent increase, when compared with figures for the previous year.

Experts say the increase serves as a reminder of the economic trials currently facing UK businesses and consumers.

Identity fraud is where a criminal poses as somebody else to take out loans or buy goods in their names. Those frauds where the criminal requires identity details accounted for almost sixty five per cent 65% of all frauds recorded by CIFAS in 2012.

Peter Hurst, CIFAS chief executive, said: “With the cost of living increasing, pay levels frozen for many, benefit changes taking effect and a sluggish economy, it is unsurprising that fraud has increased.

Mr Hurst said companies and individuals needed to look at preventing fraud, rather than just simply dealing with the consequences.