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Protecting yourself from Identity Fraud
Identity
fraud is a growing and extremely serious problem in the
United Kingdom. Well organised criminal gangs are believed
to be behind the recent dramatic increases of identity fraud
and theft, and they are using increasingly sophisticated
methods to achieve their aims.
It is a crime which should be
taken extremely seriously, and one that can affect all of
us.
Identity fraud is a problem that Sadiq has been working hard
to tackle, in Tooting and in Parliament. It is a crime that
can affect any of us and should be taken extremely
seriously.
Please take a few minutes to read this leaflet and find out
what you can do to minimise the chance of being targeted by
fraudsters.
How to protect yourself
- Regularly
monitor your credit report using an online credit reference
agency. Check for
suspicious activity such as bank accounts or credit cards
you are not aware of or credit checks by companies you don’t
recognise.
- Monitor
your post. Some of the most commons types of fraud involve fraudsters stealing
your post. If you are expecting something in the post and
it has not arrived, report it to the sender immediately.
- Forward
your post. People who move houses, particularly between rented accommodation, are
particularly at risk. Ensure that all your post is
forwarded on to your new address for at least six months
after you have moved house.
- Keep
your details up to date.
Ensure that your bank, building society, mobile phone
provider, Royal Mail and any other organisation who contacts
you on a regular basis have your current contact details.
- Destroy
documents containing personal information.
Use a shredder to ensure that
all utility bills, bank and credit card statements, cheque
books and stubs, credit card receipts, application forms etc
are destroyed.
- Be
careful when answering the phone or using internet banking.
Fraudsters will
often call or email you, pretending to be from your bank or
credit card company, and ask you for personal information
that they will then use to access your account.
Your bank, building society or credit card company will
NEVER contact you in this way – never give out any
information over the phone to someone who has called or
emailed you.
See your bank’s online security advice for further
information.
How can I tell I have become
a victim of fraud?
The following are common
signs that someone is using your identity fraudulently:
- Your
credit report includes entries you do not recognise
- You
are unexpectedly refused credit
- You
receive a phone call or letter telling you that you have
been granted or refused credit you haven’t applied for
- Your
bank or credit/debit card statement includes charges for
items you do not recognise
- A
lender or debt collection agency contacts you about goods
you have not ordered or a credit account you did not open
- Regular
monthly statements or other items of mail go missing or keep
arriving late.
If you discover identity
fraud, it’s important to act quickly:
-
Don’t panic! Lenders and
other organisations are used to dealing with cases of
fraud and will try to help you sort things out as
quickly as possible. The lender will usually report the
matter to the police.
-
Report any lost or stolen
documents or credit/debit cards to the issuing
organisations straightaway
-
Get a copy of your credit
report and check for unfamiliar credit applications and
accounts. If you spot fraudulent information on your
credit report, contact their Fraud Team.
-
If you suspect your mail
has been stolen or fraudulently redirected, contact
Royal Mail’s Investigations Unit
-
Consider CIFAS Protective
Registration. This will place a warning flag on your
credit report which will alert most lenders to the
fraud, meaning that they will take extra care when
dealing with credit applications made in your name
-
If your details are being
used at another address, contact the Mailing Preference
Service and arrange to remove your name at that address
from mailing lists
For more
information on how to protect yourself from identity fraud,
and what to do in the event you become a victim, please see
the following websites:
CreditExpert – online credit report monitoring:
www.creditexpert.co.uk
Home Office identity fraud advice:
www.identity-theft.org.uk
CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service:
www.cifas.org.uk
Mailing Preference Service:
www.mpsonline.org.uk
or phone 0845 703 4599
Telephone Preference Service:
www.tpsonline.org.uk
or phone 0845 070 0707
Iammoving.com (a free UK change of address service):
www.iammoving.com
Bank Safe Online:
www.banksafeonline.org.uk
CardWatch: www.cardwatch.org.uk
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