National Identity Fraud Prevention Week

Think you are a victim of Identity fraud?

If you do become, or suspect you may be a victim of identity fraud, don't panic but do act quickly as this can help limit the extent of the fraud.

Contact Your Bank and Credit Card Companies:

Identity fraud involving the use of plastic cards (such as credit and debit cards), online banking, or cheques, should be reported directly to the financial institution concerned. Your bank, for example, is now responsible for undertaking further verification and investigation, and where appropriate will report it to the police for investigation following a change in reporting procedures.

These changes were introduced by the Home Office on 1 April 2007, following discussion with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the financial sector, to reduce the level of bureaucracy involved in fraud recording, and to streamline the reporting and initial investigation of such frauds.

Contact Your Creditors: Get in touch in with creditors with whom you have an account (e.g. banks, credit card companies, store cards, phone & utility companies) even if they have not been affected so that they can monitor your accounts to ensure they remain protected.

Contact a credit reference agency: Callcredit, Equifax or Experian provide suggested steps to resolve the situation and prevent it happening again.

Contact CIFAS Protective Registration: If you think you have been a victim of identity theft you should consider subscribing to the CIFAS

Protective Registration service: A notice will be placed on your credit file indicating that your name and address may be used to perpetrate identity fraud.

This website is full of useful advice to protect you in the future. If you move house, tell your bank, card issuer and of course all other organisations that you deal with immediately, but don’t forget to ask Royal Mail to redirect any mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year.

If you're planning to be away from home for an extended period consider contacting Royal Mail about their 'Keepsafe' service which will hold your mail for up to two months, and deliver it to you on your return. Visit www.royalmail.com for more information.

You should also consider investing in a cross cut shredder and destroy all documents before recycling or binning them. Currently Amazon.co.uk are offering shredders at a 20% discount using the promotional code DIYE83EQ for the month of October.