One third of Brits send fake emails

The survey of 1,000 people by biometrics and identification systems company TSSI found that a further 23 percent had also been tempted to do so.

Security in the workplace was a worry for 27 percent of people. The survey uncovered justification for this alarm: Fourteen percent had spied on people entering PINs, passcodes and passwords, while 10 percent had misused ID and access control systems by impersonating someone else or had assisted someone else to do so. A further 35 percent said they would lend or borrow a work pass if they or a colleague had forgotten theirs.

"Dishonesty and fraud are shockingly widespread," said Danny Chapchal, TSSI Systems executive chairman. "It is clear that either through deliberate dishonesty, or in a misguided effort to be helpful to colleagues, users are regularly overriding access control systems".

It also seems from the study's findings that Britain is a country of forgers. Nearly half of respondent (45 percent) admitted to some kind of forgery. ID cards were by far the most popular item, with 18 percent admitting to forging these. Other items included doctor's notes (5 percent); fake letters on company letterhead (4 percent); reference letters (4 percent).

Chapchal recommended that companies improve their ID security by ensuring they have a person responsible for both physical and IT security. He also said it was important to have a secure method of ID to "ensure employees only undertake the jobs they are suppose to do."

www.tssi.co.uk