A majority of respondents believe the economic downturn will increase the risk of identity theft and financial fraud, a study finds.

About 63 per cent of respondents in a Unisys Security Index survey said identity theft and related crime would increase because of the declining economy.

“The latest Unisys Security Index shows an increase in concerns about the security of online activities such as shopping and banking as well as growing concern about financial fraud,” Unisys Asia Pacific vice-president Andrew Barkla said.

“The global economic downturn is clearly starting to bite.”

The top three security issues included other people obtaining credit card or debit card details, unauthorised access to, or misuse, of personal information, and national security in relation to war and terrorism.

“Regardless of the reality of actual risk, it is a time in which Australians need greater overt assurances that their private and personal information is securely protected against fraudulent and criminal activity,” Mr Barkla said.

Only three per cent of those surveyed said their risk of identity theft would fall during the economic downturn.

The survey measured consumer perceptions on a scale of zero to 300, with 300 representing the highest level of perceived concern.

The survey was conducted nationally between March 13 to 15 by Newspoll using a nationally representative sample of 1,201 respondents aged 18 years and over.

AAP