The financial threats posed by identity theft have been highlighted by one organisation.
According to figures from the fraud prevention group CIFAS, around 68,000 people were impersonated by those committing fraud between January and October of 2009.
People looking to get credit in the coming weeks may be interested to hear the view of the body's communications manager Richard Hurley, who believes that it is not just physical pickpockets that consumers need to be aware of.
He said: "The festive season traditionally reminds us of the high street threats of thieves and pickpockets stealing our wallets.
"We must, however, protect ourselves equally from their latter-day counterparts who target our identities."
CIFAS believes that when it comes to the number of cases of impersonation recorded in 2009, there has nearly been a 37 per cent rise compared to the equivalent ten-month period of last year.
The organisation aims to reduce instances of fraud in a variety of financial sectors.
