PEOPLE have been urged to destroy anything displaying personal information when they recycle in a bid to thwart identity thieves.

Identity theft has been found to be one of the fastest growing categories of fraud in the first half of 2023. Most of this is done by online scammers but identity theft also happens without technology.

An opportunist fraudster could find all they need in the contents of a recycling bin.

Letters or packaging - whether from medicines, bank letters, receipts, or parcels- displaying a person’s name, address, or date of birth is all that is needed to start building a false identity and accessing a person’s money.

Bradford Council officers have heard stories from residents of such things happening, or people being seen trying to intercept mail or going through the contents of a recycling bin.

The best way to avoid this is to destroy anything displaying personal details. Names, addresses and dates of birth should be ripped up or shredded before items are recycled.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for healthy people and places, said: “We want people to continue to recycle, but please can everyone check items before they place them in their bins. Destroy anything containing personal details."