Hunter is already established in the UK, Australia and South Africa. The new release - called Hunter II - features full global language support and extends the systems data sharing abilities across the world.

The Hunter II system has been developed by MCL Software, Experian's specialist fraud detection business, and enables users to share data on fraudsters across different product types and industry sectors.

The online application works by automatically screening new credit applications and claims against a database of previous applications, suspect information and known fraud data. Use of an alias or fake names, false employment details and impersonation can also be matched and highlighted.

David Usmar, senior fraud manager at Barclaycard, says the firm will trial the new version: "We have used Hunter for a number of years and welcome the new developments with Hunter II, including incorporation of the death register and automatic identification where a fraudster is impersonating a deceased person."

Commenting on the launch of Hunter II, Gary Wood, MD of Experian's fraud solutions business, says: "Fraudsters don't abide by geographic boundaries, nor stick to one form of fraud or business, product or service to attack.

"Fraud is often a key part of organised criminal activity and it is only through international cooperation and the use of systems such as Hunter II, that businesses can keep ahead of the game."

Separately, according to press reports, retail group GUS plc - Experian's parent company - is planning to float the credit checking business. According to UK newspaper The Daily Mail, analysts feel Experian would be more highly valued if it traded on its own as a financial services group.

If GUS did decide to float the business, Experian would probably be valued at about £4bn, says the paper.