Reproduced by kind permission of The Sun. Hands off my dosh By: Charles Rae and Richard Creasy Tuesday January 16, 2007 Cheap anti-ID fraud idea gets the thumbs up. IT is a cheap and simple way to combat identity theft - Britain's fastest growing crime. Former sailor Jamie Jamieson keeps his financial dealings safe from ID sharks with his THUMBPRINT. For three years the 58-year-old Scot has simply added his thumbprint to forms while applying for loans, mortgages and credit and debit cards. Now his one-man crusade to beat the growth in ID theft has gained support in the House Of Commons. Tory MP Robert Goodwill will ask Home Secretary John Reid to back the "foolproof" system by promoting the idea on the Home Office website. Mr Goodwill will raise the issue in a written question. Ex-Royal Navy man Jamie explained: "It costs virtually nothing. The main outlay is an ink pad so you can dip your thumb to make the print - not very technical but hugely effective. "This system works so well because anyone trying to steal your ID would have to give their own thumbprint - and not many criminals want to do that." Track His idea is vastly cheaper than the proposed Government ID cards, which are estimated to cost between Pounds 90 and Pounds 300 per person. Jamie's method requires an individual sending letters to the main credit agencies in the UK - Equifax, Experian and Call Credit. People using his blueprint would tell the agencies, which track virtually all personal financial records in Britain and around the developed world, that in future any application for financial products in their name must be accompanied by their thumbprint. By law, lenders must take notice of this and cannot give loans or credit unless there is a accompanying thumbprint - otherwise the lender is responsible. Neil Munroe of Equifax says: "People who want to use this system can email for our form, fill it in, add a thumbprint and it's done." MP Mr Goodwill, who represents Scarborough and Whitby, said the Home Office should "seriously consider this as a quick and inexpensive way of addressing this type of crime". Website Scamsdirect.com said: "The banking industry has struggled for years to find a system that protects consumers from fraud. Jamie's method beats anything they have come up with." Get more tips to protect your ID at thesun.co.uk/money. HOW TO DO IT WRITE three copies of a Notice Of Correction, saying: Please add the following Notice Of Correction to my credit file: "I (your name) of (your address) declare that when my signature is required for any financial product or service I will authenticate it with my thumbprint. "Failure by me to comply with this direction should result in the service or product being withheld. "Any application without a thumbprint should be considered fraudulent. I will inform you in writing, signed and thumbprinted, of any changes to this Notice Of Correction." Sign and thumbprint each letter using an ink pad.The notice must contain your title, name, surname, date of birth, address and postcode and previous addresses. Send copies to: 1) Callcredit plc, Consumer Service Team, PO Box 491, Leeds LS3 1WZ . 2) Equifax Limited, Credit File Advice Centre, PO Box 1140, Bradford BD1 5US. 3) Experian Limited, Consumer Help Service, PO Box 8000, Nottingham NG80 7WF.