Grand Theft Wino

30th May 2008

Data loss and ID fraud is an all too familiar concept. Yet the news that Amy Winehouse left bin bags full of bank statements, cleaning bills and medical records whilst clearing out her North London home is a stark reminder that we all need to take more care.

People think that falling victim of a fraudster will not happen to them and more worryingly are continuing to put themselves at risk by being careless with their personal details.

According to a national ranking published by the credit report provider, Callcredit, Londoners are most at risk of ID fraud in the UK. The analysis found that almost 50% of the top 20 postal areas most at risk of ID fraud fell within Greater London and the surrounding areas, suggesting that those living in the capital need to be on high alert for identity theft.

Owen Roberts, Identity Protection Expert at Callcredit said: "It's incredibly difficult to be 100% safe from identity theft, so doing all you can to protect yourself is essential. Although there's plenty of information available on how to stay protected from ID fraud, many people are still getting caught out.

"Whether you're Amy Winehouse or an average British consumer, it is of utmost importance not to leave personal information lying around for criminals to use.

"We need to make life harder for them by taking simple steps such as shredding documents, protecting your PC and regularly checking your credit report. If we take a few simple precautions we are less likely to experience the distress that a serious case of identity theft can cause."