The government has created a website offering advice on how to beat identity fraud.
The website, www.identity-theft.org.uk, explains how to keep personal information safe, how to get help, and what is being done to tackle this growing crime.
It is part of a significant package of measures to tackle identity fraud, said Home Office Minister Des Browne.
“Having your identity stolen is very traumatic - it can take some victims up to 300 hours to put their records and their lives straight,” said Browne.
“ID fraud costs the country more than £1.3bn per year. Multiple or false identities are used in more than a third of terrorist related activity and in organised crime and money laundering.”
He described the site as a “one stop shop” to tackle the problem.
The government said more than 100,000 people a year in the UK are the victims of identity theft.
