Agents should beware growing ID fraud, warns reference provider

Reference provider Rent4sure says agents should beware of the growing issue of online identity fraud, especially hitting people in their 30s.

A recent report by not-for-profit anti-fraud organisation Cifas says individuals in their 30s are now the most targeted demographic for fraud, such as the gathering of names, addresses, dates of birth and bank account details. 

A total of 89,000 cases were recorded in the first six months of the year, which is a five per cent rise on the same period of 2016, and a new record high. 

There has been a sharp rise in ID fraudsters applying for insurance products, telecoms, loans and online retail. 

Rent4sure - which markets products in this sector, including one which allows agents to identify passports and other documents that have been tampered with - says the rise in ID theft online is a key reason why letting agents should engage experts to help them avoid fraudulent applications getting through. 

“At Rent4sure we follow stringent procedures. If a letting agent uses our checks appropriately, and uses all the guidance and recommendations we offer plus their usual checklist, it would be a big step forward in the battle to stop people fraudulently renting properties” claims the provider’s IT and products director, Jack Webb-Heller. 

“Our system not only checks the address and name that applicants provide but also cross matches these against all the previous addresses and relevant information linked to that credit profile. We have a specially designed range of referencing services that work in tandem to ensure an identity isn’t stolen” he adds.