Worrying report. According to the anti-fraud organisation, Cifas, identity theft is reaching epidemic proportions, with 89,000 cases being reported in the first half of 2017 - that’s roughly 500 per day. Whilst the stereotypical image of a fraud victim is an elderly or vulnerable person, they actively target business owners in their 30s and 40s. This is because they tend to have good credit ratings and are worth impersonating.

What can you do? In order to carry out an identity theft, fraudsters often select targets by trawling social media accounts. So, whilst it may sound simple, limit what personal information you share online and restrict who can see it. Also, don’t throw out anything that has your name, address, date of birth, signature or financial details without shredding it first. If you have concerns about identity theft and need further advice, contact ActionFraud - the UK’s national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre - on 0300 123 2040.