How to beat identity fraud Common scams

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Identity fraud is a serious problem, with phishing scams on the rise

Identity fraud is at record levels, with fraudsters using ever-more sophisticated means to steal a person's identity. 

Fraudsters looking to steal your identity will attempt to obtain sensitive personal details any way possible - typically to open a bank account or shopping account in your name, or fraudulently take over existing accounts.  

They do this by getting their hands on your bank statements or utility bills so they can impersonate you. 

Or, they may trick you into revealing your bank details and security information over the phone or internet so they can access your bank accounts.

Using information you may have innocently posted on social networking sites is another trick that fraudsters have begun to use in recent years.

Phishing

Fraudsters often send emails that appear to come from your bank or other organisation to get you to give them passwords and account details. This is called phishing.  

Phishing emails are more targeted and sophisticated than they were a few years ago. They now tend to look more professional so they're less easy to identify as being fake.

How to protect yourself: Never reply to emails or use links contained in emails. Even if you think they really are from your bank – they probably aren't. If you are emailed or phoned by your bank, use the normal contact numbers to confirm whether the message is genuine. 

It's a good idea to use security software on your PC to block rogue emails. Banks shouldn't ask you to reveal complete passwords or account details over the phone, so use your common sense whenever you're asked for security or account details.

Protect yourself from phishing - read our security software reviews and advice staying safe online

Be wary of phishing emails to keep your card details safe

Protecting your cards

Credit cards and bank cards are gold dust for the ID fraudster. Around £1.2m is lost per day due to card fraud in the UK. 

The biggest type of card fraud is card-not-present fraud where account details are stolen and used over the internet or telephone to make fraudulent transactions.

How to protect yourself: Try not to let cards out of your sight in shops and restaurants. Check bank and credit card statements regularly for any rogue transactions. Don't write down Pins or account numbers.

Protect yourself from card fraud - read our guide to understanding card fraud

Discard financial information

Most people shred or rip up financial information such as receipts and statements before throwing them away. This is good news, as criminals can use your personal details as a first step to opening new accounts or gaining access to existing ones if they find these documents

How to protect yourself: Use a shredder or thoroughly rip up personal documents before binning them. We recommend cross cut or diamond cut shredders, as they cut paper into smaller pieces.

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