6 days ago
The ‘worrying trend' that puts you at risk of identity fraud
Fraud prevention service Cifas has identified a "worrying trend" of individuals selling their own identities, often for promised financial opportunities.
This practice leaves people vulnerable to criminals taking out loans or credit in their name, leading to significant personal debt.
Cifas's latest Fraudscape report revealed over 118,000 suspected identity fraud cases between January and June 2025, with AI significantly exacerbating the threat through synthetic identities and fabricated profiles.
The report also highlighted a rise in employee fraud, including individuals concealing background information and engaging in "polygamous working" or using fraudulent references.
Cifas CEO Mike Haley described fraud as a "national emergency" supercharged by AI, urging urgent, coordinated cross-sector collaboration to combat the evolving threat.
