Identity theft
What is identity theft?
Your identity and personal information are valuable. Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name. If your identity is stolen, you may have difficulty getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is sorted out.
Things to look for
You may become a victim of identity theft if:
- You have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licenses; or
- Post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all.
You may already be a victim of identity theft if:
- Items have appeared on your bank or credit card statements that you do not recognise;
- You applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming;
- You received bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven't asked for;
- You have been refused a financial service such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history;
- A mobile phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge; or
- You have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren't yours.
How to protect yourself
Security tips:
Regularly get a copy of your personal credit file (this costs as little as £2) from a credit reference agency to see if it includes any entries you do not recognise. Royal Mail offers a redirection service to help prevent identity fraud when you move house. Consider asking Royal Mail to redirect any post from your old address to your new one for at least a year. You will have to pay a charge for this service.
If you move house, also tell your bank, credit card company and all other organisations that you deal with as soon as possible. To check that your personal details are secure, get a copy of your credit file two or three months after moving.
Always be careful if other people have access to your post. Contact Royal Mail if you think your post is being stolen. Check whether a mail redirection order has been made in your name without your knowledge.
Credit and debit cards:
Cancel any lost or stolen credit or debit cards immediately. Keep a note of the emergency numbers you should call.
Be careful to keep your personal information secure when using your card over the phone, on the Internet or in shops by making sure that other people cannot overhear you or see your personal information.
Look after your personal documents:
- Keep your personal documents in a safe place, preferably in a lockable drawer or cabinet at home. Consider storing valuable financial documents (such as share certificates) with your bank.
- If your passport or driving licence has been lost or stolen, immediately contact the organisation that issued it.
- Don't casually throw away documents such as bills, receipts, credit or debit card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder.
- Check statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact the bank or company concerned immediately.
Password tips:
Never give personal or account details to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. Be aware that a bank will never contact you to ask you for your personal identification number (PIN) or for a whole security number or password. Keep them secure.
Don't use the same password for more than one account and never use banking passwords on other websites. Using different passwords on other websites. Using different passwords makes it harder for criminals to access your accounts. Avoid using your mother's maiden name or family dates of birth as passwords. Keep passwords safe and never record or store them in a way which leaves them open to theft, such as in your purse or wallet.
If you think you are a victim
Act quickly to make sure that you are not liable for financial losses caused by criminals using your identity.
- Report lost or stolen documents such as passports, driving licenses, credit cards and cheque books to the organisation that issued them.
- Consider contacted CIFAS, the UK's fraud prevention service, to apply for protective registration if you believe you are a victim of identity fraud or at risk of becoming one. Once you have registered, CIFAS members will carry out extra checks whenever anyone, including you, applies for a financial service using your address. They do this to make sure that a criminal is not trying to commit fraud by pretending to be you. You will have to pay a charge for this service.
- If someone has fraudulently opened an account in your name, contact the company concerned immediately.
- Contact your bank or credit card company to report suspicious transactions on you statement.
- Get a copy of your personal credit file and report any suspicious entries. Report the matter to your local police and ask for a crime reference number.
For more information and useful contacts please visit the Home Office identity theft website: www.identitytheft.org.uk |
