BIN RAIDERS ON THE PROWL
Sky news website / 17th October 2005
More than 18 million households could be vulnerable to identity fraud because they do not dispose of bills properly, according to a new study.

The research showed that fraudsters have searched household rubbish to find old bank statements and bills to obtain goods and services.

They also bribed delivery men to hand over items containing personal details and rifled through unattended handbags to get receipts and payslips.

Organised criminal gangs even pay "bin raiders" to go through people's rubbish and steal documents containing their personal information.

Corporate identity fraud, where organised criminal gangs hijack the identities of companies and use their credit to buy goods, is also a growing problem.

It is hoped the findings by Populus will help people protect themselves from the crime.

The study found 59% of householders disposed of their full name as it appeared on a debit or credit card.

More than 70% disposed of their full address details and 26% of documents containing their bank account number, while 19% threw out utility bills.

About 10% threw out documents containing their name, address and signature, plus bank statements or utility bills - virtually everything required for identity fraud.

Jane Reay, from the crime prevention charity Crimestoppers, said: "Identity fraud is not a victimless crime. It can take up to 300 hours of frustrating phone calls to deal with banks, credit card companies and other lenders."