Identity fraud has dramatically increased with a leap of 66 per cent over the last year, a privacy watchdog revealed today.

More than 6,000 victims contacted credit information firm Experian last year, compared to 3,500 the year before, with certain pockets of the UK most at risk, the firm’s report said. London remains Britain’s identity fraud capital.

People living there are almost twice as likely to fall victim than the rest of the population. Residents of affluent Kensington in south-west London are three-and-a-half times more likely to suffer identity fraud compared to the UK average.

Those living in London’s Richmond-upon-Thames, Putney, Wimbledon and the Kings Road area in Chelsea are also among those at highest risk, Experian said.

Outside of London, postcodes where the risk of fraud is more than four times the UK average include CB23 5, Great Cambourne near Cambridge, NN4 5, Far Cotton, Northampton and TS17 5, Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees.

Shropshire County Council cabinet member for community safety Gerald Dakin warned people in the county to be wary.

He said: “It’s a serious issue.”

West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels added: “If people think they are victims of any kind of fraud, identity fraud or any other, they should contact the police or if a trading issue, the trading standards department.”The typical identity fraud victim is aged between 26 and 45 and earning more than £50,000 a year, according to Experian.

But a spokesman for the Information Commissioner’s Office said protecting personal information “has never been so important”.

Helen Lord, director of fraud and compliance at Experian, said: “The rate of identity fraud growth is worrying.

“Although some people are statistically more likely than others to become a victim, we should all be concerned.

“We are all potential victims.”

l Have you been a victim of identity fraud? Contact the newsdesk on (01952) 241422 or e-mail newsroom@shropshire star.co.uk