Fraud prevention service Cifas has highlighted a “worrying trend” of people selling their own identities – potentially leaving themselves liable for loans or credit taken out in their name by criminals.

The service, whose members include banking, retail, insurance, and telecoms bodies, said that more than 118,000 cases where identity fraud was suspected were recorded between January and June 2025.

It said the ongoing threat is being exacerbated by AI (artificial intelligence)-enabled synthetic identities and fabricated profiles that can bypass security checks.

It highlighted concerns that people are sometimes selling their own identities, typically on the promise of attractive financial opportunities.

But by giving criminals access to legitimate credentials, Cifas is warning that peo

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