ID Theft Leapfrogs Street Crime in Safety Fears
Writes Dan Drage dan.drage@consumerchoices.co.uk
UK residents fear ID theft ahead of street crime according to figures published by American Express.
The research, commissioned by the insurance services branch of American Express, shows ID theft has risen to top spot in the public’s consciousness when it comes to potential threats to their safety.
43% of all respondents conceded ID theft was their most prominent safety fear, where as 41% said they were most scared of ‘yob culture’.
Being attacked in the street came next (32%), along with burglary (31%), vandalism to the car (27%), threatening behaviour (25%) and neighbourhood vandalism (23%).
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"The safety landscape is changing and ID theft is becoming a bigger issue year on year"
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Somewhat surprisingly given the ample media coverage to each event, terrorism, taking the last train home and DIY disasters wrecking your property featured towards the bottom end of the list.
The internet savvy generation of 18-24 year olds is increasingly on guard when it comes to fraud and identity theft. 35% of this group named it as a major concern, an 8% rise since 2007.
Chris Rolland, Head of American Express Insurance Services, had the following to say:
“As fast-paced working life drives more people to rely on technology in the way they manage their lives, so the safety landscape is changing and ID theft is becoming a bigger issue year on year”
Fear of alcohol-related crime is the biggest faller since 2007; falling from 35% to 25%, down a third in three months. More than one in four young Britons ranked this as a top safety issue (27%).
Chris Eagle, Commercial Manager at Credit Choices, says changes in the banking code could have affected these results:
“The banking code, amended in May 2008, now states customers must have up to date antivirus and anti-spyware software installed on their computer if they’re to successfully claim compensation after becoming victims of online fraud”
He continues:
“Without this software, any claims are likely to be rejected, hence the heightened public awareness of ID theft and online crime.”
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