Region’s cities become fraud hotspots

Over the last 12 months, more frauds were recorded by one watchdog in the UK than in any previous year, with identity-related crimes, where criminals misuse personal data, accounting for nearly two thirds of all fraud confirmed in 2012.

Parts of Leeds and Sheffield recorded as many as three victims per 1,000 – making the areas real hotspots for fraudsters.

The East Riding, Harrogate and Bradford had as many as 1.5 victims per 1,000 frauds. In London, almost 10 in every 1,000 were affected.

According to CIFAS, the UK’s fraud prevention service, 248,325 were frauds recorded in 2012 – a 5 per cent increase over the previous year.

Yesterday, the watchdog – which collates fraud figures from members that include banks, mail order and savings and investments companies – called for more organisations to get involved to combat the problem.

Communications manager Richard Hurley said there is a: “need for more public and private organisations to act responsibly and share data to prevent fraud before having to recover losses.”

Identity fraud is where people’s personal details such as addresses, dates of birth, mother’s maiden names and other details are used to open bank accounts, take out credit cards or open a mobile accounts in another name.

In other identity-related crimes, existing accounts can be hacked to launder money or buy goods in another person’s name.

Organised crime is frequently linked to the scams but a report prepared for CIFAS says in some cases the con artists are known to their victims.

The organisation also discovered that typical fraudsters were aged in their 20s.