Page 1 f 5 Identity theft is when yur persnal details are stlen and identity fraud is when thse details are used t cmmit fraud. Mre abut identity fraud and identity theft Identity fraud can happen when: fraudsters use a false identity r smebdy else s identity details t btain gds r services by deceptin criminals use genuine but falsely btained dcuments, such as ther peple s passprts r natinal insurance cards, t travel r t get public sectr and welfare services identity infrmatin belnging t an individual r rganisatin is used t pen accunts r apply fr credit a fraudster uses identity details t prduce cunterfeit dcuments. Fraudsters can use yur identity details t: pen bank accunts btain credit cards, lans and state benefits rder gds in yur name take ver yur existing accunts btain genuine dcuments such as passprts and driving licences in yur name. Stealing an individual s identity details des nt, n its wn, cnstitute identity fraud. But using that identity fr any f the abve activities des.
Page 2 f 5 Identity theft Identity theft is when smene s persnal details, such as their name, date f birth, current r previus addresses are used withut their knwledge r cnsent. Als knwn as impersnatin fraud, identity theft happens when fraudsters access enugh infrmatin abut smene s identity t cmmit identity fraud. Identity theft can take place whether the fraud victim is dead r alive. If yu re a victim f identity theft, it can lead t fraud that can have a direct impact n yur persnal finances and culd als make it difficult fr yu t btain lans, credit cards r a mrtgage until the matter is reslved. What s mre, it csts the gvernment and financial services industry many millins f punds every year. Yur identity can be stlen in a number f ways: A thief finds ut yur bank details r sees infrmatin abut yu n yur bank r credit card statements r persnal bills A thief finds ut the persnal details yu ve prvided t nline shpping sites and scial netwrking sites, r finds them frm ther surces, such as births and deaths registers etc. Yu might reveal enugh persnal infrmatin by replying t a fraudulent email, eg an email advising yu have wn a prize in a freign lttery. Are yu a victim f identity fraud? Yu may already be a victim f identity fraudsters if: yu have lst, r had stlen, imprtant dcuments such as yur passprt r driving licence yu ve nt received the pst yu expected frm yur bank items appear n yur bank r credit card statements that yu dn t recgnise
Page 3 f 5 yu identify entries n yur credit file frm rganisatins yu dn t nrmally deal with yu apply fr a state benefit but are tld yu re already claiming it yu receive bills, invices r receipts addressed t yu fr things yu haven t bught r services yu haven t asked fr yu ve been refused a credit card r a lan, even thugh yu have a gd credit histry yu discver a mbile phne cntract has been set up in yur name withut yur knwledge yu receive letters frm slicitrs r debt cllectrs fr debts that aren t yurs financial institutins yu dn t nrmally deal with cntact yu abut utstanding debts. What shuld yu d if yu re a victim f identity fraud? Act quickly yu mustn t ignre the prblem. Even thugh yu didn t rder thse gds r pen that bank accunt, the bad debts will end up under yur name and address. If yu believe yu re a victim f identity fraud invlving plastic cards (eg credit and debit cards), nline banking r cheques, yu must reprt it t yur bank as sn as pssible. Yur bank will then be respnsible fr investigating the issue and they will reprt any case f criminal activity t the plice. The plice will then recrd yur case and decide whether t carry ut fllw-up investigatins. If yu think yu re a victim f anther kind f identity fraud, yu must reprt the matter t the relevant rganisatin. Depending n their advice, yu shuld then alert yur lcal plice frce. Yu shuld reprt all lst r stlen dcuments such as passprts, driving licences, plastic cards, cheque bks t the relevant rganisatin.
Page 4 f 5 If yu re nt sure which rganisatin t call, cntact Actin Fraud fr advice. Cntact Ryal Mail if yu suspect yur mail is being stlen r that a mail redirectin has been fraudulently set up n yur address. The Ryal Mail has an investigatin unit that will be able t help yu. Get a cpy f yur credit file. Yur persnal credit file will shw exactly which financial rganisatins have accessed yur details. Help t keep yur persnal infrmatin secure by asking fr a cpy f yur credit file frm any f these credit reference agencies: Callcredit (www.callcredit.c.uk) Equifax (www.equifax.c.uk) Experian (www.experian.c.uk) Lk at yur credit file clsely. If yu find entries frm rganisatins yu dn t nrmally deal with, cntact them immediately. Remember t keep a recrd f all yur actins, including the peple yu ve spken t and when, and keep cpies f all letters yu send and receive. If yu suspect smene else has used yur persnal details fraudulently, the Credit Reference Agencies Victims f Fraud Service (www.identitytheft.rg.uk/victims-f-fraud-service) will help yu. Their service is free. Prtect yurself against identity fraud Dn t thrw ut anything with yur name, address r financial details withut shredding it first. If yu receive an unslicited email r phne call frm what appears t be yur bank r building sciety asking fr yur security details, never reveal yur full passwrd, lgin details r accunt numbers. Mst banks will nt apprach their custmers in this manner. If yu are cncerned abut the surce f a call, ask the caller t give yu a main switchbard number fr yu t be ruted back t them. Alternatively,
Page 5 f 5 hang up and call yur bank back n the legitimate phne number printed n yur bank statements. Check yur statements carefully and reprt anything suspicius t the financial institutin cncerned. If yu re expecting a bank r credit card statement and it desn t arrive, tell yur bank r credit card cmpany. Dn t leave things like bills lying arund fr thers t lk at. Get regular cpies f yur credit reprt frm a credit reference agency. If yu mve huse, always get Ryal Mail t redirect yur pst.