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Identity Theft


Protect yourself from Identity Fraud
Whilst the Council takes every precaution to safeguard the personal information it holds regarding individuals, there is a great deal you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity fraud.

Your identity and personal information are valuable. 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 licenses in your name. There are four specific areas for you to think about: Personal Information, Plastic Cards, Documents and Passwords and PINS (Personal Identification Numbers).

Criminals commit identity theft by stealing your personal information. This is often done by taking documents from your rubbish or by making contact with you and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation.

Identity theft can result in fraud affecting your personal financial circumstances, as well as costing government and financial services millions of pounds a year. If your identity is stolen, you may have difficulty getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is sorted out.

Things to look out for
You may become a victim of identity theft if: 

  • you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence
  • post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all

You may already be a victim of identity theft if: 

  • you identify entries on your personal credit file from organisations you do not normally deal with 
  • items have appeared on your bank or credit-card statements that you do not recognise
  • you applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming
  • you receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven’t asked for
  • you have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history
  • a mobile-phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge
  • you have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours
  • financial institutions that you do not normally deal with contact you to chase an outstanding debt.

The following tips will help you protect your identity and prevent criminals from committing fraud in your name: 

Keep your personal information secure  

  • Your identity and personal information are valuable assets. Keep them secure.  
  • Regularly obtain a copy of your personal credit file from one of the three credit reference agencies to see which financial organisations have accessed your details. It is particularly helpful to check your personal credit file 2-3 months after you have moved house.  
  • Be extra careful if you live in a property where other people could have access to your mail. In some cases a bank or credit card company could arrange for you to collect valuable items such as new plastic cards or cheque books from a local branch.  
  • If you suspect your mail is being stolen, contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Line: 08457 740 740. Check whether a mail redirection order has been made in your name without your knowledge. 
  • If you move house, tell your bank, card issuer and all other organisations that you deal with immediately. Ask the Royal Mail to redirect any mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year. 
  • Consider using the Mailing Preference Service to limit the amount of unwanted mail you receive. 

Keep all your plastic cards safe  

  • If your plastic cards are lost or stolen, cancel them immediately. Keep a note of the emergency numbers you should call. Further details can be found at the Card Watch website.  
  • When giving your card details or personal information over the phone, Internet or in a shop, make sure other people cannot hear or see your personal information.  
  • Never carry documents or plastic cards unnecessarily. When not in use keep them in a safe place.  
     

Keep your documents safe   

  • Keep your personal documents in a safe place, preferably in a lockable drawer or cabinet at home. Consider storing valuable financial documents such as share certificates with your bank. 
  • If your passport or driving licence has been lost or stolen contact the issuing organisation immediately.  
  • Don't throw away entire bills, receipts, credit-or debit-card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder. 
  • Check statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact the company concerned immediately.
      

Keep your passwords and PINs safe  

  • Never give personal or account details to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. Be suspicious even if they claim to be from your bank or the police. Ask for their phone number, check it is genuine and, if so, call them back. Be aware that a bank will never ask for your PIN or for a whole security number or password. Keep them secure.  
  • Don't use the same password for more than one account and never use banking passwords for any other websites. Using different passwords increases security and makes it less likely that someone could access any other accounts. 
  • Keep your passwords safe and never record or store them in a manner which leaves them open to theft, such as in your purse or wallet. 
  • If you receive a suspicious e-mail purporting to be from a bona fide institution which requests personal details, click here for advice provided by the banking industry. 

Who Can Help
To find out how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, or to learn more about fraud prevention in general: 
 
Obtaining your credit file  
You can obtain your credit file from any of the three credit reference agencies listed below. Some also offer consumers secure online access to their credit files: 

  • Call Credit
    Follow the appropriate consumer information links to obtain your credit file from Call Credit. 
  • Equifax
    Follow the appropriate consumer information links to obtain your credit file from Equifax. 
  • Experian
    Follow the appropriate consumer information links to obt 

Consumer finance identity theft information
These organisations provide general advice and information about fraud relating to consumer finance. 


Reporting the theft or loss of mail and document
If you lose any important mail or documents, you should notify the following organisations: 


General fraud prevention
The following sites provide general information and advice on fraud and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim: 

 

Page last modified on 26/02/2007
Address: Guildford Borough Council, Millmead House, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4BB Telephone: 01483 505050