Identity fraud 'fastest-growing crime'?

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With identity fraud becoming the nation's fastest-growing crime, Crime Stoppers has urged Australians to stop throwing personal information into rubbish bins. Identity fraud has claimed half-a-million victims in the last 12 months at an estimated cost of $1 billion to the national economy, says the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). And professional women in their 20s and 30s are most at risk. Despite the danger, a Newspoll survey shows nearly 70 per cent of people throw away bank and credit card statements, social security and tax file number details, utility bills and other personal information. Ahead of national identity fraud awareness week, Crime Stoppers has urged Australians to shred their statements and personal information, as well as digital information held on CDs, before throwing it away. "This is the only safe way to ensure that your personal information is secure from dumpster divers," said Crime Stoppers chairman Peter Price. Over the past year, 383,300 people experienced at least one unauthorised, fraudulent transaction using their credit card or account details, the ABS said. Another 124,000 fell victim to identity fraud, with unauthorised people using their driver's licence, tax file number or passport to conduct business, open accounts or take out loans illegally in their name. http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/5061657/identity-fraud-fastestgrowing-crime/