Levels of identity theft rose by 57% last year as fraudsters increasingly turned to social media to gather valuable personal data, according to a British anti-fraud body.Data gathered by CIFAS from 261 companies in the UK revealed that Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn had become a “hunting ground” for identity thieves.The fraud prevention service found that there was a 52% rise in young identity fraud victims in the UK, also underlining the demographics of the trend.The figures have been published on the same day as a new short film, Data to Go, is launched online to raise awareness of this type of fraud. Filmed in a London coffee shop in March this year, the film uses hidden cameras to capture baffled reactions from people caught in a stunt where their personal data, all found on public websites, is revealed to them live on a coffee cup.Simon Dukes, Cifas, Chief Executive said:”Fraudsters are opportunists. As banks and lenders have become more adept at detecting false identities, fraudsters have focused on stealing and using genuine people's details instead. Society, government and industry all have a role in preventing fraud, however our concern is that the lack of awareness about identity fraud is making it even easier for fraudsters to obtain the information they need.”The likes of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other online platforms are much more than just social media sites – they are now a hunting ground for identity thieves. We are urging people to check their privacy settings today and think twice about what they share. Social media is fantastic and the way we live our lives online gives us huge opportunities. Taking a few simple steps will help us to enjoy the benefits while reducing the risks. To a fraudster, the information we put online is a goldmine.”Commander Chris Greany, City of London Police and national co-ordinator for economic crime said:”We have known for some time that identity fraud has become the engine that drives much of today's criminality and so it is vitally important that people keep their personal information safe and secure. In the fight against fraud, education is key and it's great that Cifas and its members are taking identity fraud seriously and working together to raise awareness of how the issue is now increasingly affecting young people through the launch of this film.”As part of the campaign, Cifas commissioned a survey with Britain Thinks to find out more about 18-24 year olds' attitudes towards personal data and identity fraud. The survey found that young people are alarmingly unaware that they are at risk:Only 34 per cent of 18-24 year olds say they learnt about online security when they were at school;50 per cent of the 18-24 year olds surveyed believe they would never fall for an online scam (compared to the national average of 37 per cent);Only 57 per cent of 18-24 year olds report thinking about how secure their personal details are online (compared to 73 per cent for the population as a whole).;

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