West Mercia Police is marking scam awareness month during July by raising awareness of identity crime, with the message: ’There’s only one you; keep it that way’.

Obtaining a person’s identity, in the form of their personal details, gives criminals the opportunity to commit identity crime, such as fraud. Fraudsters may be able to take over someone’s existing bank accounts, open new ones, obtain credit cards, loans and mobile phone contracts, order goods and get genuine documents in that person’s name.

Identity fraud was the largest fraud carried out against individuals, nationally, according to the Annual Fraud Indicator 2016, estimated at £5.4bn a year.

West Mercia Police is urging people to be aware of the risk of this type of crime and to make sure they follow some simple steps to reduce the chances of falling victim. To find out more please visit: https://www.westmercia.police.uk/becybersmart