Your guide To protecting yourself against ID theft the crime may be painless but the outcome certainly isn’t!

Identity theft... is not just something that happens to ‘other people’; the chances of it happening to you are very real. It is one of the fastest growing white collar crimes in the UK, affecting to over 100,000 people and costing the economy £1.7 billion a year. Criminals no longer need to get into your house to steal from you. They are not looking for valuables, they are looking for information: your personal information. Once they have it, they can spend tens of thousands of pounds in your name and it can take over a year for you to find out. The implications can be much worse: your credit rating may be ruined, making it impossible to apply for a credit card, secure a loan or even obtain a mortgage. What is identity theft? Criminals illegally obtain your personal information such as full name, date of birth or address and then purchase goods and services in your name. It can even go further; opening bank accounts, applying for driving licences or even claiming benefits. How does it occur? Worryingly, criminals don’t always need high-tech equipment; it can be as simple as going through your rubbish bin. A recent survey found that the vast majority of households’ waste contained information that could help criminals in committing identity theft.

What are the signs that ID fraud may be occurring? • Bank/ credit card statements – Unusual items and payments appear. • Confirmations – You receive letters, emails or phone calls confirming a new contract that you haven’t entered into. • Bills – You receive bills of payment, statements or invoices for items and services you have not purchased. Your bills or statements may also not arrive, in which case they may have been stolen. • Credit – Your application for credit, such as a card or loan is refused due to an unusually poor credit rating. There may also be searches undertaken on your credit file that you didn’t instigate. • Legal action – Solicitors’ letters or letters from debt collectors arrive relating to debts that aren’t yours. • Refuse – Your bin bags have been tampered with.

What can be done to prevent it? • Use the Royal Mail redirection service when moving house and also inform your bank and any other company you deal with. • Check every statement and bill you receive for irregular payments. Don’t assume it is correct. • Be careful as to whom you provide your details to; be that online or over the phone. Are they a trusted source? Never give your complete information to anyone who phones or emails you with requests. • Regularly obtain a copy of your personal credit file from a credit reference agency, such as Equifax or Experian, to receive a list of all accounts opened in your name or credit checks. • Collect your new credit and debit cards from your bank. Keep a note of the emergency numbers in case your card is lost or stolen. • Shred all documents you dispose of that hold your personal information including bills, junk mail, statements and even receipts. A cross-cut shredder provides added security. • Shred any credit, store or debit cards once they have expired. • Use different passwords for each on and offline account you hold. Try and make the passwords unique and not obvious. • Always keep your personal information, passwords, credit cards, statements, bills, passport, birth certificate and driving licence secure - preferably in a lockable cabinet, case or mini safe.

What can be done if I have been a victim? • Report lost or stolen documents immediately - follow up with a letter. • Report the crime to your local police station and obtain a crime reference number. • Contact the company of any unusual bills or statements immediately. • Obtain a credit report and inform the agency of the crime or any incorrect information on your file. • Keep a log of any correspondence, evidence or information for future reference.