Cybercrime: Stealing your identity

We all have an identity. Your identity tells people information about who you are, from your name and address to where you work, shop and socialise. Part of everyones identity is stored digitally, in the information on your computer and the records held by your bank, employer and doctor.

If these parts of your identity are stolen, criminals can use this information to open bank accounts, draw benefits and create legal documents such as passports in your name. Identity theft is one of Britains fastest-growing crimes, partly due to the misuse of computer and Internet technologies. New and converging digital technologies give us increased freedom to access and store information. But they also increase our vulnerability to attack from hackers and virus-makers.

Cybercrime is only one method that criminals use to steal identities. They can also gain access to personal information by impersonating you on line, over the phone or face to face, and by bin raiding and card cloning.

So how a big a problem is cybercrime compared to other forms of identity theft? Whom do you trust when it comes to your digital identity and who should be responsible for its protection? What can you do to protect yourself against different forms of identity theft? Quiz the experts and find out how to avoid the pitfalls of identity theft in our interactive event.