A quarter of UK adults know someone who
has had their identity taken or misused, or experienced
it themselves, according to a new survey by Which?
Here's how you can lessen your chances
of becoming a victim of identity theft.
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Q |
How bad is it? |
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A |
Looking after your identity has become increasingly
important. Two thirds of people interviewed by
Which? said they were concerned about ID fraud
and the government estimates it is costing the
UK £1.3bn a year.
Fraudsters can use personal details to gain access
to bank accounts, run up bills, launder money,
create false documents such as passports or birth
certificates and carry out benefit fraud. The
consequences can be very distressing and a headache
for victims to sort out.
While you will not normally be liable for the
stolen money, credit reference agency Equifax
estimates it can take up to 300 hours to resolve
one case. Top
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Q |
How can I safeguard my personal
documents? |
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A |
Although the rise of ID fraud is very alarming,
there are steps you can take to try to protect
yourself.
Carelessly discarding personal details is an
easy way to become a victim. Criminal gangs have
been known to employ homeless people to search
through rubbish bins for financial records and
identity documents.
A survey by credit reference agency Experian,
published in 2003, found that two in five rubbish
bins contained a whole credit or debit card number
that could be linked to an individual.
The number one tip from experts is that all documents
containing personal information and financial
transactions should be either ripped up or shredded
before they are thrown out. Electronic shredders
can be purchased for as little as £15 and
can help take some of the hassle out of destroying
documents.
Destroying evidence should also extend to direct
mailings or any documentation that contains your
name and address, experts advise. Top
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Q |
What about documents I want
to keep? |
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A |
Experts advise people to lock away all important documents and financial records.
The most valuable paperwork, such as title deeds
and share certificates should either be kept in
a safe or at your bank or solicitor's offices.
Top
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Q |
My bank has sent me an e-mail,
asking to update security details? |
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A |
Identity fraud is not only committed using
stolen paper documents, it also operates over
the internet. If you receive an e-mail purporting
to be from your bank or credit card provider which
asks you to update your details, it is likely
to be a "phishing" scam. If customers
fall for the scam, the fraudsters can gain access
to their bank accounts or use them to launder
money.
It is important to remember that your bank will
never ask for your log in and password by e-mail.
If in doubt, call the bank. Top
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Q |
My bank has telephoned me
at home and asked for my pin? |
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A |
Cold calling to gain access to bank account
details is another tactic employed by identity
fraudsters. But a genuine bank would never call
you and ask for your pin number or password. Top
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Q |
Are there any special steps
I should take when I move home? |
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A |
Yes. Moving home can be an opportune moment
for potential fraudsters. People are advised to
notify all firms that send mailings of their change
of address.
Experts also suggest people should redirect their
mail to the new address for one year. This should
cut down the chances of it being intercepted by
potential fraudsters. People who suspect their
mail may have been stolen, can contact the Royal
Mail on 08457 740740.
The Royal Mail also offers a free change of address
service for nearly 1,000 companies, from banks,
gas, water, and electricity suppliers to government
agencies.
One way of cutting down on unsolicited mail and
the chances of fraudsters using information contained
in these mailings is to register with the Mailing
Preference Service. Top
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Q |
How can I keep my passwords
safe? |
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A |
Experts urge people not to write down their
pin numbers and not to disclose them to anyone.
They also suggest people should steer clear of
using obvious passwords, such as a mother's maiden
name or date of birth. Top
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Q |
How can I check to see if
someone has obtained credit using my identity? |
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A |
Anti-fraud experts urge people to check their
bank statements as soon as they arrive. People
who are concerned about whether they have been
a victim of identity fraud can also check their
credit file to see if someone has used their identity
to access credit.
You can obtain a copy of your personal credit
file for £2 from one of the three credit
reference agencies - Equifax,
Experian
and Callcredit.
Top
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Q |
What if I am a victim? |
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A |
Act quickly and notify the credit provider
straight away. It is also important to report
it as a crime to the police and request a crime
number.
Industry body Cifas advises victims to keep a
record of everything, as recovering from identity
theft can be a long and complicated process. Cifas
also advises all letters should be sent by recorded
or special delivery and for people to keep track
of how much time they spend dealing with the problem.
Victims of identity fraud or people who are concerned
they could become a victim because they have had
important documents stolen, can apply for extra
protection through Cifas' Protective Registration
Service.
It costs £11.75 and places a warning on
credit files. This should ensure that if anyone
applies for credit under your name, further identity
checks are made. This service can also be used
to protect the identity of a deceased person.
Telephone 0870 0102091 to register. Top
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