NOTTINGHAM, U.K.—Young professionals who rent were hit with the biggest surge in identity theft during 2015, a new study reveals.
Experian reports that one-fifth (20%) of all attempted identity theft in the past year was aimed at young professionals in rentals.
In particular, Experian said, this group was the target for nearly a quarter (23.4%) of all attacks involving current accounts, which has been the biggest focus for fraudsters in 2015.
The research also reveals that fewer high-net-worth individuals fell victim to identity thieves in 2015, compared to 2014.
Affluent families living in prestigious areas, who tend to have high assets and investments, saw a significant drop in attempted identity fraud – from 10.7% in 2014 to 8.3% in 2015. Well-off home owners in rural locations, who tend to be self-employed, also saw identity fraud attacks fall from 5.3% in 2014 to 3.8% in 2015.
“Easily accessible, shared hallways can offer opportunities for those wanting to harvest personal details and these figures highlight the need for renters to be vigilant,” said Experian’s Nick Mothershaw. “People in these shared blocks must remain aware of their finances and spot any irregularities that could be a sign of fraudulent activity.”