Identity theft

Your identity and personal information are valuable. Once criminals have your personal details they can use them to open bank accounts, get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licences in your name. It is possible you may not be aware of the theft for some time, by then the damage will have been done and you could be left with debt and ongoing fallout from their activities.

Important documents

To minimise the risk of identity fraud you should ensure that important documents such as passport, credit and bank cards, bank and other statements, driving licence etc are all safely stored. Checking statements and other documents regularly will help you identify any transactions not made by you. Watch out for paperwork received in the post for items you have not sent for or be alert to items of post not being delivered.

Shredding unwanted statements and other documentation containing personal details is preferable to throwing them in the bin, where they can easily be salvaged by criminals.

If you lose your credit/bank cards, you should cancel them immediately. Always have the emergency contact numbers for your bank or credit card company to hand, to save time if the worst should happen.

Remember to ensure your privacy and that you are not overheard when giving bank card details over the telephone. It is best to leave cards at home when not required; a lot of us are guilty of carrying all our cards in our purse or card holder.

What should I do if….?

If you’re worst fears are realised, and you have been a victim of identity theft you should act immediately by contacting relevant agencies/companies. Additionally, CIFAS Protective Registration service can amend your file to show you have been a victim of Identity Fraud (there may be a charge for this service).

All fraud should be reported to the specific companies involved who will also advise about reporting the issues to the Police. If it is found you have been negligent then you may be liable to repay the monies, you may also find that you may have problems getting further credit until matters are finalised.

As with all dealings with companies/institutions, remember to maintain records by keeping copies of correspondence – details of any phone calls with times/dates and name of person and lastly send any mail using a service that can be tracked and where you get a receipt of posting.

Another form of identity theft is motoring identity theft

In this instance you may start to receive parking fines or congestion charges or even be informed by Police that you and your car were involved in a crime. It is also possible your number plates may be stolen, if this happens you should report it immediately to the Police.

Unfortunately, it is also necessary to protect the identity of recently deceased relatives, to do this you will need to be thorough in your dealings with Government Agencies / Banks/Building Societies and other relevant Organisations. Returning items such as pension books and other documents using a Priority Service at your Post Office which safeguards the item and issues a receipt with track and trace options. Remember to omit personal details of the deceased in the Obituary such as date of birth, address etc which could be used by criminals.

Shred all other unwanted documents. To stop unsolicited mail, you can register with the Royal Mail Preference Service and also have mail redirected until the deceased’s estate is cleared. If there is property to be sold impress on the estate Agents that all ‘showings’ must be done accompanied by a representative of the Estate Agency.

Please see below telephone contact numbers for some of the services mentioned in this article.