Identity theft is fastest-growing threat

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the UK, according to software company SAS Institute.

The company revealed that there had been a 500 per cent increase in identity fraud in the first six months of this year, compared to the same period in 1999.

The steep increase has been blamed on the rise of the internet, and the easy access to information about individuals.

Peter Dorrington, business solutions manager at SAS Institute UK, told silicon.com: "The internet is making it easier for more people to attempt [identity theft]."

Identity theft is the gathering of personal information with the intent to impersonate, by acquiring a small amount of personal data and then building an extensive portfolio of information about the individual.

Criminals have found the personal information on the electoral roll, online directories and online genealogy sites.

Dorrington explained why identity theft had become so easy: "We have tried to become a more open society," he said.

Dorrington told silicon.com the best way to curb this problem is through a "national identification verification service" - a government-run agency that holds one part of a two-part identification verification key. Such a service is not currently in operation.