17/03/2010
By Scott Thompson
Eleven per cent of the online UK population has been a victim of ID fraud within the last 12 months, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by VeriSign.
The VeriSign Online Fraud Barometer, a bi-annual survey, uncovered a 12 per cent rise in the number of people that did not suffer any immediate financial loss as a result of the fraud, indicating an increase in the number of victims who suffer identity theft or other less immediately tangible losses.
The average sum lost by victims of online ID fraud was £352 in the last 12 months. Twelve per cent of victims are still waiting to be fully reimbursed for the money they lost, representing a slight improvement since the last survey, when it stood at 14 per cent. Four per cent believe they will never recoup the money they lost to fraud.
The barometer also uncovered the following trends and habits among British web users. Those based in Northern Ireland are currently the least likely to be defrauded, with only five per cent stating that they have been a victim of online ID fraud in the last 12 months. They have taken over from the Scots who topped the last Barometer as least likely victims. Londoners are increasingly careless when buying online, with 20 per cent stating that they don't make sure they only use websites that have enhanced security - a two per cent increase over the last six months. The landscape in Wales has improved most dramatically over the last six months, with the number of victims halving from 20 to 10 per cent since the last survey.
"Online criminals only need three pieces of information to steal your digital identity. While online ID theft may not necessarily result in immediate financial loss, web users need to remember that fraudsters can farm email and social networking sites for information which enables them to impersonate you online. Alternatively they could sell your information to other cyber criminals who want to use your details for criminal purposes," says Phil D'Angio, director at VeriSign. "Consumers need to remain vigilant at all times by reading a site's security policies, checking their privacy settings and looking out for security certificates and seals. Businesses can differentiate themselves in this challenging economic climate by bolstering security on their websites and by showing consumers exactly how secure they are through techniques like strong authentication or EV SSL which turns the address bar of a secure site green, effectively giving consumers the green light for transacting online."
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