Following yesterday’s release of the Cifas Fraudscape annual report*, Keith McGill, Head of Fraud and ID at Equifax UK, believes the rising trend will continue through COVID-19, but fast-tracked
solutions may eventually bear fruit:

“The results of the Cifas report show the changing face of fraud and identity theft across the UK. With a
13% rise in reports to the National Fraud Database from 2018, it’s clear that even before the pandemic
struck there were a number of challenges for individuals and businesses to stay a step ahead of
fraudsters.

“With a doubling of online retail facility takeovers in 2019 from the previous year, we can expect this figure to grow once again in 2020 as companies have fast-tracked digital and online solutions to maintain customers and revenues during lockdown. In cases where this move to technology is unfamiliar and rushed, fraudsters will undoubtedly find opportunities to take advantage.

“According to the research, 87% of identity theft came via online channels in 2019, reinforcing the
importance now more than ever for companies to ensure they have robust and secure controls in place
for processes such as customer identification and onboarding. In this time of heightened online activity
and risk, it’s also crucial for individuals to take greater care with their online security and personal details.

“Despite the trends outlined in the report, there is light at the end of the tunnel. The pandemic has forced businesses to accelerate their online presence and digital transformation. Many are using this as an opportunity to embrace the latest technologies, and for those without legacy systems they are able to introduce cutting-edge services and security from the outset.

“Consumer confidence, coupled with more effective digital identification and security measures, will
ultimately benefit the reputation and longer-term strength of companies committed to making the
change. For those who are slow to react, COVID-19 is likely to speed up their decline as the world moves to a digital future.”

Sources:
All statistics cited come from the Cifas Fraudscape report 2020, published August 2020