Britons 'oblivious' to ID theft risks

The threat of identity fraud is reportedly being ignored by Britons failing to protect sensitive information in their passports, driving licences and birth certificates.

Some 25 per cent of Brits admit they would not notice if their passport went missing, and four-fifths of people would not register the loss of a birth certificate – despite the documents being crucial for aiding identity thieves – according to new research from life assistance firm CPP.

Brits are now being advised to make sure their personal documents are kept under lock and key – with the average cost of a single identity theft now standing at £8,000 as multiple lines of credit are often taken out in victims' names.

The total cost of identity theft in the UK is now estimated to stand at over £1.7 billion per year.

However, the risk is not just from burglars, as friends and even family have, in instances, stolen documents to take out loans.

Danny Harrison, identity theft expert at CPP, said: "Don't leave personal information lying around the house.

"We have had cases of ID theft where friends, neighbours and even family have stolen personal documents and taken out big loans, mail order and credit cards."

Personal details on driving licences, passports, birth certificates, bank statements, bills and National Insurance cards can all be used to circumvent bank security measures and get to access accounts.