I know someone who lost their passport five months ago and still hasn’t reported it missing. Which is crazy.

When it comes to identity theft I am paranoid. I protect my computer, never open strange email attachments, destroy any paper documents containing personal details and don’t even have my birth date on my Facebook page.

A lost passport would have left me distraught at the possibilities of what might happen if it fell into the wrong hands. It could be used to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards, help a terrorist cross borders, build up a completely new ID in my name.

The next time I left the country I could be arrested by immigration as an al Qaeda associate of the White Widow and being £10,000 overdrawn on a Visa card for internet activity that includes buying Semtex, timers and subscriptions to ladyboy websites in Thailand.

“Oo-er, guv. That’s not me. It’s my Doppelganger.”

“Of course it is, sir. Now, try these handcuffs for size.”

Lucy Straker, Communications Officer for the Business Crime Reduction Centre, says it takes, on average, seven months to realise identity thieves have stolen your identity.

“That’s 213 days a criminal can use your details illegally. When you find out it can take an additional three months to get your identity back. Another 91 days. In extreme cases the process can take years to resolve.”

The Centre is a partnership between the Yorkshire-based charity, People United Against Crime, and the police forces of West, South and North Yorkshire and Humberside.

Identity thieves target businesses as well as individuals, often with devastating affect.

“Thieves have learned that businesses also have identities that can be stolen and unsuspecting businesses can be very easy targets with the potential to steal even more money and goods.”

This has a knock-on effect. Action Fraud says only 5% of people are confident that businesses treat their personal information securely.

To help combat this growing menace the Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) is holding a free training event at Aspire, Leeds, on November 29 to provide the knowledge to protect themselves against identity theft and associated scams.

Director David Ransom said: “The rapid growth of technology and business’ use of the internet has provided criminals with many more opportunities, plus a range of new techniques with which to commit the crime.”

To register for the free event call: 0114 275 1283 or visit www.bcrc-uk.org/events.