A Web site designed to help businesses train staff to detect ID theft activity has been launched by the UK's fraud prevention service Cifas in partnership with Apacs and the British Bankers' Association (BBA).
According to a Cabinet Office report released in 2002, ID fraud costs the UK more than £1.3 billion a year.
The new online service is aimed at managers of organisations that might be vulnerable to fraudsters and is designed to help them train staff to spot ID fraud criminals.
The site features information and best practice guidelines on how to prevent ID fraud. An interactive e-learning section is designed to improve and enhance the understanding and awareness of employees who need to check the identity of new or existing customers on a day-to-day basis.
The training portal teaches staff how to spot counterfeit documents and highlights security features from key documents such as the UK passport and driving licence. The service also includes links to verify overseas documents of identity and features tools to help monitor and maintain effective staff training.
Regular updates on issues associated with counterfeiting, stolen identity documents, what to look for in forged documents, statistical information and regulatory changes will also be added to the site.
Philip Robinson, sector leader on financial crime for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), says: "This is a valuable industry initiative, providing firms with best practice guidance to help them stay one step ahead of the identity fraudster."