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A risk assessment company has advised people to take simple steps in protecting themselves against identity fraud.

Even locking away documents, shredding unneeded paperwork and making sure bins are properly emptied can all help in the fight against online fraud, Experian has said.

A report by Apacs in March found that cases of online credit fraud were up 25 per cent on the previous year’s figures, making up over half of all credit fraud cases.

Last year, 68 per cent of consumers said they were concerned that financial data could be stolen when they made online purchases, according to a report by Mintel Comperemedia.

Experian’s fraud and regulatory compliance director Helen Lord said: ‘Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes of the 21st century, but there are steps people can take to prevent it from happening.’

She advised holding onto bills and receipts to check with bank statements and asking neighbors to look after each other’s post when one of them is away to discourage theft.

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Search engine providers need to be more transparent about how they utilise users’ data, a government initiative has said.

Get Safe Online, a joint initiative between the government and the Serious Organised Crime Agency, has said internet users should make a decision as to whether to remain with providers who use private information for things such as targeted advertising.

A report released this month by the European Union stated that search engines should not hold on to personal data for a period of more than six months. Google and Yahoo! currently carry a policy of rendering all users’ data anonymous after 18 months.

Managing director of Get Safe Online Tony Neate said: “It’s not always exactly transparent why they [search engine providers] need it [user data] so I’d like to see a bit more clarity in relation to the information that they hold and why.”

A June 2007 report by Privacy International said that Google demonstrated an “aggressive use of invasive or potentially invasive technologies”.

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