5. Identity theft

Your identity and personal information are valuable.

Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 people are affected by identity theft in the UK each year, costing the British economy over £1.3 billion annually.

Criminals commit identity theft by stealing your personal information.

This may be done by taking things like old bills and letters from your rubbish bags or by making contact with you pretending to be from a real organisation such as your bank, the gas or water company or even the police.