BUSINESSES are being urged to work with the Government to stamp out identity theft by Bolton North-east MP David Crausby.
Identity theft is now the fastest growing crime in the country, affecting thousands of people and costing the economy an estimated £1.7 billion every year.
Mr Crausby is calling for businesses to fund an identity theft support centre so victims can report the crime, confident their problem will be sorted out with the relevant organisations.
He also wants to see the Home Office to force the police to hand out a crime reference number for ID theft victims, which is essential for them to clear their name.
Mr Crausby said: "Although banks, retailers and the Government agencies are the target of fraud, the true cost is borne by individual victims in terms of time, stress and the difficulties involved in untangling the financial mess that can take years to resolve."
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