THERE are major concerns new estates of flats in Erith have become the target for organised and widespread mail theft and identity fraud.

Residents say the case of Bamidele Odunlami, jailed last week for nine months for a series of thefts of chequebooks and credit cards from mailboxes which were then used to set up false accounts, is just the tip of the iceberg.

News Shopper understands one of the town's 22-flat blocks alone is currently under investigation for around 80 fraudulant tax credit claims totalling around £500,000.

A deputation, including a Royal Mail sorting office manager, has already been to see Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin about residents' concerns.

Mr Austin is a member of a new all-party Parliamentary group investigating identity theft.

The deputation detailed incidents which have already occurred in Erith. These include:

  • The use of stolen bank statements, utility bills and forged driving licences to open multiple fraudulent internet bank accounts.
  • The transfer of cash from genuine accounts, via stolen debit cards and chequebooks, to new accounts using bogus identities.
  • Changing the address of genuine account holders to new addresses accessed by fraudsters.
  • Using empty or little-used flats as postal addresses for fraudulent activity under multiple bogus identities.
  • Obtaining loans and other credit facilities using stolen documents.

One flat owner described how stolen mail was used to set up bogus companies at an address in his block of flats.

The companies ordered goods, including computers worth thousands of pounds.

These goods were intercepted at the block entrance by people who identified themselves as the company owners through stolen documents, before the goods could be delivered to the flat.

With a number of new developments of flats planned for the town, residents are concerned not enough attention is being paid by developers to the need for properly secured mailboxes.

On one estate, mail was stolen and residents were defrauded because the maiboxes were accessible from outside of the blocks.

The problem has already been raised with the police and Bexley Council, which has sent its crime prevention and design adviser to Erith to investigate and make recommendations.

Mr Austin described the situation in Erith as "well organised" and said he had already raised issues with the Inland Revenue and the Department of Social Security about why documents were sent to multiple names at single addresses.

He said: "We certainly need to improve the standard of mailboxes and people are careless about the documentation they throw away."

Mr Austin urged people who have experienced identity theft to write to him at the House of Commons, London SW1 1AA, detailing their experiences.