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UK AT GREATEST
RISK OF IDENTITY FRAUD IN EUROPE
THE UK is at the greatest
risk of identity fraud throughout Europe, according to new
independent research. As National Identity Fraud Prevention
Month since the 1 October 2012, a taskforce of partners from the
public and private sector embark on a month-long initiative to help
UK residents combat personal identity fraud in four simple steps.
'Don't let it be you' is the message of this annual campaign
which addresses the issue of ID fraud and is backed by Action Fraud, CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service, Equifax , Norton by
Symantec, Get Safe Online and Fellowes.
According to the research commissioned by Fellowes especially for
the joint initiative, 24% of residents in the UK has been touched by
identity fraud compared to 17% average across Europe. Identity
fraud is more rife in the UK than any other European country,
including Russia, where 20% are victims. Impact can be financial
loss; in some cases up to £30,000 per victim; plus a negative
credit rating.
Scarily, 75% of the UK population has been exposed to ID fraud. The
most common scam is a fake email supposedly from a person's bank
requesting a return email with personal information to update
security details (52%). The incidence rate for this type of scam is
significantly higher in the UK than the rest of Europe (31%).
And it's not just hackers and cyber criminals targeting British
households: 10% of people in the UK have been targeted with scams
requesting paper based information to be sent through the post,
where fraudsters could use personal details to potentially commit
identity fraud.
People are becoming far too complacent with the security of their
personal details in printed documents, such as bank statements and
bills as well as their online information. Research shows that 47%
of Brits are not taking basic precautions such as consistently
shredding paper documents with personal information before
discarding.
Financial loss
Personal ID fraud can result in financial loss. In extreme cases
houses have been purchased in victims' names although on average it
has cost victims £1,076.
However, the average cost per victim in Germany is far greater with a
staggering £28,666 that has been taken in the average case, with victims
in Italy suffering losses of £13,180 per victim.
Time taken
Findings show that it takes on average 7 months before UK victims
realise they've had their identity used by someone else, another 3.4
months to resolve the situation and in some instances these 2 phases
could take up to several years.
In Belgium and Italy, victims are far quicker at identifying unusual
activity on their financial accounts, taking on average 4.8 months
and 5.6 months respectively. It takes victims in Poland more than a
year to realise that they've suffered from identity fraud while the
Dutch take even more time (18.5 months) to recognise that they have
been victims.
Neil Munroe, spokesperson for the campaign comments:-
"Stealing your personal information is where most fraud begins. With
a stolen ID a fraudster can effectively become you - taking money,
buying property, setting up bank and phone accounts all in your
name.
We are all using computers for shopping and socialising with friends
and we are receiving more post than ever before, whether it's a bank
statement or a piece of direct mail. This leaves us all open to risk
from ID fraud if we do not take action to protect ourselves.
The small simple steps required to protect someone's identity should
become as routine as locking your door when you leave the house. If
you don't protect it, a fraudster or someone else will take it. It
can take almost four months to get your identity back, and in some
cases years."
Advice and Guidance
To help combat online and offline identity fraud, the taskforce has
launched its new online resource 'Don't let it be you'
providing consumers with advice, guidance and support to reduce
levels of attack.
When it comes to identity fraud, prevention is always key and this
year's campaign highlights these four simple steps to protecting
identities:-
► WATCH for anyone asking for personal information on line, by letter
or phone
►
ALERT your bank about any problems with your bank & credit cards
►
SHRED all documents containing personal or sensitive information
with a cross-cut shredder before throwing it away
►
PROTECT your post against redirection and theft, then report unusual
delivery delays.
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Declan Jones
goes back to the future at Aintree
LIVERPOOL-based teenager
Declan Jones made his debut in a Chevron B16 at Aintree last
weekend. The 17 year old, who is competing this year in both
the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup and the French V de V Championship,
was taking in the track day on the 1.5 mile Aintree Club Circuit as
part of his preparations for his next 2 hour V de V race at Magny
Cours over 26 October to 28 October 2012.
In total he did at least 50 laps in the Peter McLaughlin-owned
Chevron B16; which incidentally is up for sale; running in 8,
10 to 15 minute sessions during the course of the day at what was once
the home of the F1 British Grand Prix, and fondly regarded as the
'Goodwood
of the North'. Although no official times were taken, the
Halewood Village, based youngster's best laps were all just under the
minute marker.
"It was great to get behind the wheel of the Chevron B16 today
for the first time. It is a lovely car
to drive and I felt comfortable in it straight away. It has got to
be the most powerful car I have driven. Obviously it is not as quick
through the corners as the Ginetta G50, but the G50 has got various
aero bits on it. But it is definitely a really fantastic car to
drive.
I am really looking forward to competing in it now at Magny Cours.
Obviously we will be able to work on it a little bit more there. At
Aintree we had to be a bit careful, because there is a golf course
in the middle of the track and the odd tree dotted around the
perimeter. You could push it, but I'll be able to push it even more
at Magny Cours." said Declan.
Declan's dad and manager, Kelvin Jones meanwhile confirmed that the
Chevron B16 ran without a hitch. Kelvin
explained"The test went really
well. I actually built this car about seven years ago for Peter
[McLaughlin], who is of course the CEO of Chicago Soft, one of
Declan's two main sponsors and one of my customers. He has sent the
car back to me now to sell it in Europe for him and we are taking it
to Magny Cours to show it off. We
installed the engine on the Friday and we were up at Aintree the
following day so Declan could give it a shakedown and get a bit of
experience behind the wheel.
Interestingly Declan is now possibly the youngest ever driver to
pilot a Chevron around Aintree and that is a nice little footnote
given this is the track where Chevron founder Derek Bennett use to
take the cars and test them in the 1960s and 1970s. In fact it is
the track where the Chevron B16 first ran and Derek arrived with a
B16 and broke the track record.
In the last session, Dec was flying and was even outpacing this big
M1 McLaren with 600 brake horsepower. He really enjoyed himself and
the car was perfect. It looked very impressive.
I'd like to thank Liverpool Motor Club for organising the track day;
they did a great job and the organisation was superb. Aintree is
very special to everyone in this part of the country and it has a
great history. It was the place Sir Stirling Moss won his first
grand prix and to see Dec driving around there was really enjoyable.
It was a really useful day for us. The rain stayed away too! We
couldn't have asked for more."
Declan will now be out in action again this coming weekend when he
heads to Silverstone, over 6 October and 7 October 2012, for the penultimate round in the
2012 Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup. Declan's driving partner for the French V
de V event at Magny Cours has still to be confirmed.
'Top of the
Pops Live'
has been cancelled
LIVERPOOL Empire Theatre
have told us that the show due to on Monday, 26 January 2013
called:- 'Top of the Pops Live, has been cancelled'
has been cancelled. Flying Entertainment have confirmed the
announcement. Derek Nicol, Producer and Joint Managing Director,
said:- "We have taken the difficult decision to cancel the
tour. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and wish to reassure
anyone who has purchased a ticket that they can obtain a full refund
from the point of purchase." |
