Identity cards: Fraud

Will an ID card cut identity fraud?

This week we're featuring a series of three special reports about national identity cards as the government presses ahead with its plans for a scheme in the UK.

Civil liberties groups are outraged by the prospect of a national identity card which it is feared will cause the biggest threat to freedom since World War 2.

Breakfast will be looking at the issue from three different perspectives.

On Monday, Graham Satchell looked at how an identity card scheme might work in the UK and what the card could look like.

Click here for the first part in this series

Today, Max Foster reports on fraud and benefits and whether using an ID card can prevent this.

And Tristana Moore has been looking at the scheme already in place in Germany and whether the card has been successful in tackling terrorism - you can see that report on Wednesday.

This morning, Natasha spoke to security expert Peter Dorrington, about how effective ID cards will be

He believes that I/D cards will stop opportunistic fraud, but warned that the introduction of cards is never 100% successful.

It will work eventually ... but there will be errors Peter Dorrington, security expert

One of the weaknesses of a card, according to Peter Dorrington is that there will be mistakes - for example, cards which are issued to the wrong person.

That could mean that people who are not entitled to benefits being able to get them because they have a card.

And for people who don't receive cards - but are entitled to them - the reverse will be true.

Click on the link at the top of the page to see our interview with Peter Dorrington and Max Foster's report on loopholes in the ID card system.

Fraud

One of the reasons David Blunkett gives for bringing in ID cards is to cut identity fraud.

The plan is to pull together different forms of ID such as passports and driving licenses and put them on to one card with built in security features.

But how much difference will it make to how things are now?

Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK. There may well be someone out there impersonating you for example.

They could be claiming benefits in your name, or even getting credit.

To claim income benefit for example, a fraudster would have to fill in lengthy forms and take them along to the benefits office along with some documents.

But a key bit of paperwork would now be needed. Something that provides a proof of identity; a passport, driving licence or birth certificate.

But for the right money you can get a fake. High quality counterfeit passports have recently been found during a raid in London.

ID cards would in theory be harder to copy. They'll have built in security features, possibly a fingerprint, or a scan of your iris.

Data from the cards will then be backed up on computer. But creating one dominant form of ID may encourage, not discourage forgeries.

The government's own Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas says a central database may add to the problem of forgery.

The database itself would be a prime target for fraudsters. If hackers were to get in there; they'd have a one-stop shop for many identities rather than just one.