|
The worst aspect of a identity fraud scenario is that anyone could become a victim and may not find out about the theft until it has already cost them a lot of money!
Several months could pass by before the crime is even discovered and it could be several more before you get everything resolved. Don't become a victim.
Don't Let It Happen To You!
Prevention is definitely better than a cure in the case of ID Fraud as the mess it creates can be horrendous. Don't even think about going there! Be very serious about ID Theft prevention and you should be OK. But don't be complacent!
The personal information which is most easily targeted are your:
Name, Date Of Birth, Current Address, Previous Addresses, Telephone Number
These are basic details, but can be very valuable to a thief. Just make sure you really do try to protect them and keep them secure at all times.
Use Your Credit Report to Prevent Identity Theft
If you use your Personal Credit Report to monitor your Credit File you will be well placed to quickly identify any indication of fraudulent activity using your ID details.
Whenever you find Credit Checks or searches on your credit report that you were not aware of or are unable to identify then you should always investigate asap. Sometimes you may have just forgotten the name of the oganisation making the checks or it really could be that someone is trying to use your identity to get credit or buy things fraudulently.
If you see any hint that something could be wrong then you contact the Credit Reference Agency which supplied your report to find out what the reality is.
If it looks like identity theft or fraud then you should contact the police immediately.
As a victim you should also tell your Credit Reference Agencies who have specialised departments which will be able to advise and help you for free. They will also correct your credit report so that your credit history and credit score is not affected.
Tips for Identity Theft Prevention
|
Make sure you destroy anything that you no longer need and that has your personal details on it. Don't just throw it out with your other rubbish. This includes bank statements, cheque stubs, credit card receipts etc, and even envelopes with your name and address on them. Get a personal shredder and use it every day!
|
|
Don’t put any personal information in your bin. Criminals love to raid your bin to get at this very valuable information. Just don't give them the opportunity!
|
|
If you find that your mail is not being delivered anymore then contact your local Post Office delivery center to ensure it is not being redirected to a thief. |
|
If you receive a phone call from someone who asks for any of your personal information, even just your name or address, do not give it to them! Always make sure you really know who they are before divulging anything and if you are in any way unsure then say you will phone them back, but only do this after checking them out really thoroughly.
|
|
Never, ever reply to any email that requests any of your personal details. Not ever! Banks and building societies etc are already very aware of these so-called 'phishing scams' and definitely will not send you emails asking for information. Remember they already have ALL your details on file.
|
|
Never enter any personal information on a website over the Internet unless you are really totally sure that you know who you are dealing with. Be careful, very very careful!
|
Access your Free Credit Report online and check for theft of your Personal Identity:
Identity Theft is increasing - Make sure you stay safe.
All UK Credit Reference Agencies also provide a service which allows you to monitor your credit report to prevent identity fraud by sending you an alert when anything changes in your report.
These can be sent by email to your computer or via an SMS Text message to your mobile phone. Just access your free credit report using the link above and you will see more on the different services available.
Stop Identity Theft Now!
|
