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Identity Theft

Your identity is a valuable asset and identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information and pretends to be you to fraudulently gain financial benefits.

Your personal identifying includes your name, address, date of birth, email address, passport number, driving licence, or bank account numbers, and online login and passwords.

Once thieves ‘steal’ this information, they can create another ‘you’ and may use it to commit and will then use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and apply for state benefits in your name, or even sell your information on the dark web.

Data to Go, a 'hidden camera' film (created by Cifas) highlights just how easy it is for criminals to get your personal information from the internet.

It may be only discovered later down the line, when the damage is done, and can take a long time to resolve. Here are a few simple steps that you can take to protect yourself.

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  • Stolen Identity

    Thieves can find out your personal information in several ways:

    • Stealing your wallet or purse
    • Searching through your rubbish for letters
    • Diverting your mail by completing a ‘change of address’ form
    • Stealing important documents from your letterbox
    • From unsecured websites that you have used
    • Buying personal information from an inside source at a legitimate business. For example, a shop assistant who ‘skims’ your credit card when you make a purchase (transferring your information to a blank credit card using a small device that copies the information on your cards magnetic strip)
    • Conning you into supplying personal information over the phone or by email
    • Using hidden devices to watch your ATM transactions or standing close behind you in the queue to watch your transaction
  • Protect Yourself

    What to do if you become a victim of identity theft:

    • Act quickly and report any lost or stolen credit cards, debit cards or documents to the relevant organisations.
    • Change online passwords and log in details.
    • Contact Action Fraud. You can report a fraud via the online fraud reporting tool, or by calling Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
    • If you suspect your post has been stolen or fraudulently redirected, contact Royal Mail
    • Consider a CIFAS Protective Registration. For a small fee, a warning will alert most lenders to the fraud, meaning they will take extra care when dealing with applications in your name
    • Get a copy of your credit report and check for credit applications and accounts you don’t know about.
    • If your details are being used at another address, consider contacting the Mailing Preference Service and arrange to remove your name from any mailing lists for free
  • Take Action

    What to do if you become a victim of identity theft:

    • Act as quickly as possible
    • Report it to the police and get a crime number or incident-reference number
    • Immediately report any lost or stolen credit cards, debit cards or documents to the relevant organisations
    • If you suspect your post has been stolen or fraudulently redirected, contact Royal Mail
    • Consider a CIFAS Protective Registration. For a small fee, a warning will alert most lenders to the fraud, meaning they will take extra care when dealing with applications in your name
    • Get a copy of your credit report from the three credit reference agencies and check for credit applications and accounts you don’t know about. Experian also provides a Victim of Fraud service
    • If your details are being used at another address, contact the Mailing Preference Service and arrange to remove your name from any mailing lists for free
  • Helpful Links

    Support Organisations

    Credit Reference Agencies

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