Nearly half (47 per cent) of UK consumers believe that their identity is at risk from criminals, according to research from Glasshouse Partnership and internet polling firm YouGov.
ID fraud is at its highest amongst London residents with 28 per cent saying they have had direct or indirect experience of it. Residents of Scotland have least exposure to it with only 13 per cent having had direct or indirect experience of ID fraud.
Police: Almost two-thirds of UK consumers (58 per cent) feel that the police need more resources in order that they can better tackle ID fraud. Tougher sentencing for criminals is called for by 69 percent of UK consumers and 67 per cent believe improved internal fraud procedures would reduce the crime while 55 per cent believe that investigating every reported incident would reduce it. Overall, ‘improved IT security’ is considered the most likely measure to prevent this crime with 71 per cent.
ID card: Just 8 percent of people believe the national ID register will be completely safe from criminal activity 35 per cent see it as critical to defeating ID fraud and only 33 per cent see it as important to defeating terrorism. Less than 1 in 4 (23 percent) citizens say they trust the government not to misuse their personal details however they would prefer the system to be run by the Government rather that a private company.. Only 5 per cent of UK citizens would trust a private organisation to manage the National Identity Register.
Online shopping: Almost half (45 per cent) of consumers are now concerned about buying goods on-line, a figure which rises from 32 per cent among 18-29 year olds, to 58 percent of the over 50s. Women are particularly concerned (52 per cent, compared to 36 per cent of men). Out of the age range surveyed, the silver surfers express most concern with 58 per cent saying they were worried about shopping online.
Banks: 86 per cent of UK consumers believing the banks should do more to prevent crime and 74 per cent believe the government is not doing enough, only 71 percent of consumers agree that they should do more as individuals. 57 percent of consumers say they’d be willing to pay more for a safer financial system and 69 per cent would accept a slower safer, service.
