Fraud
Identity Fraud and Theft
Identity fraud
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 licences in your name. By following a few simple rules you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft.
How to protect yourself
Common methods of obtaining your personal details include stealing discarded documents from your rubbish. You may also be contacted via telephone or e-mail by someone pretending to be from a legitimate organisation, requesting personal information from you.
You can protect yourself by:
- shredding all personal information before discarding it in your rubbish; this includes anything referring to bank accounts, national insurance details, salary information, and old bank cards.
- deleting any suspicious e-mails from organisations requesting personal information from you - banks for example will not ask for such information by e-mail.
- being extra vigilant when giving out personal information - it's easy for criminals to falsify e-mail addresses, headed paper, and other methods of communication.
- ensuring if you move house that you alert your bank and other organisations in advance so that your mail can be redirected.
- notifying the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Line on 08457 740 740 if you suspect your mail is going missing.
How to identify when you are a victim
Possible signs that you have become a victim of identity theft include:
- disappearance of mail - this may include bank statements and credit card bills which you regularly receive that suddenly stop arriving.
- tampered with or missing rubbish bags
- receiving bills for things that you have no knowledge of purshcasing or signing up for
- irregular direct debits or payments appearing on your bank statements
Apply for a credit report
Apply for a copy of your credit report which will include details of organisations with which you have had financial dealings. Once you have received a copy, check through it thoroughly. If you find any transactions that you do not recognise you should contact the organisation in question immediately. There are three main credit reference agencies who you can contact to obtain a copy of your credit report - Experian, Equifax and Call Credit. All can be found on line (see the links on the right hand side of this page). There will be a small charge for obtaining your credit report.
Report stolen or missing mail
The Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Line is available on 08457 740 740. They will redirect your query to an investigation unit which will handle your enquiry.
Reporting identity fraud
In cases involving the use of plastic cards (such as credit and debit cards), online banking, or cheques, the matter should be reported directly to the financial institution concerned. They will then be responsible for undertaking further verification and investigation, and, as appropriate, reporting cases of criminal activity directly to the police where they will be recorded and subsequent investigation considered. It should be noted that this process is applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland only.
These changes to the reporting of plastic card, online banking and cheque fraud were introduced by the Home Office on 1 April 2007 following discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the financial sector, to reduce the level of bureaucracy involved in fraud recording, and to streamline the reporting and initial investigation of such frauds.
Where the incident has not involved the use of plastic cards, online banking or cheques then the matter should be reported to the relevant organisation in the first instance and, dependent on their advice, to your local police station.
Further information
The Identity Theft Website was set up by the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee and provides more information on how you can protect yourself against identity fraud, what to do if it happens to you, and where to get further help.
National Identity Scheme
The Identity Cards Act 2006 lays out the framework for the introduction of a National Identity Scheme. It will provide a safe, reliable way for individuals to prove their identity, linked to their own unique biometric record, thus making it much more difficult for identity fraud to occur. More information about the scheme can be found on the Home Office Identity and Passport Service website.
Last update: Wednesday, August 06, 2008