Altrincham tops identity fraud outside of London, finds Experian
19 June 2013
While the UK’s capital is very much doubles up as its identity fraud capital, research from information services firm Experian shows that the market town of Altrincham in Greater Manchester is the clear Second City.
Wed, 19 June 2013While the UK’s capital is very much doubles up as its identity fraud capital, research from information services firm Experian shows that the market town of Altrincham in Greater Manchester is the clear Second City.
Altrincham saw 13 fraud attempts for every 10,000 adults in 2012, four times the national average.
Across London as a whole, there were only 11 attempts per 10,000 adults. However, 10 areas of London recorded over 13 – East Ham (27), Romford (23), Bexleyheath (22) and Woolwich (20) heading that list, which includes just one Central London district – Cheapside, with 18.
Nationally, other identity fraud hotspots outside of London include Hatfield (11 attempts per 10,000 people), Dartford, Camberley, Birmingham (all nine), and Manchester, Stretford, St Albans and Sutton Coldfield (eight).
Nick Mothershaw, UK& Ireland director of identity & fraud at Experian, says: “Fraudsters are clearly attracted to rich pickings in more affluent areas, where access to an identity might be harder to obtain but the prize makes it worth the extra effort.
“In this respect, more affluent locations in close proximity to major cities such as Altrincham in Cheshire, Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, Hatfield and St Albans by London, have become key targets for identity thieves.”
Altrincham saw 13 fraud attempts for every 10,000 adults in 2012, four times the national average.
Across London as a whole, there were only 11 attempts per 10,000 adults. However, 10 areas of London recorded over 13 – East Ham (27), Romford (23), Bexleyheath (22) and Woolwich (20) heading that list, which includes just one Central London district – Cheapside, with 18.
Nationally, other identity fraud hotspots outside of London include Hatfield (11 attempts per 10,000 people), Dartford, Camberley, Birmingham (all nine), and Manchester, Stretford, St Albans and Sutton Coldfield (eight).
Nick Mothershaw, UK& Ireland director of identity & fraud at Experian, says: “Fraudsters are clearly attracted to rich pickings in more affluent areas, where access to an identity might be harder to obtain but the prize makes it worth the extra effort.
“In this respect, more affluent locations in close proximity to major cities such as Altrincham in Cheshire, Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, Hatfield and St Albans by London, have become key targets for identity thieves.”
