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How to beat identity fraud Protect yourself

How to beat ID fraud

Shredding all of your unwanted personal documents is an effective way to minimise risk

Treat your personal information as confidential – it’s worth a great deal to criminals. There are some basic security steps you can take to avoid your identity being compromised, and others that will help you to spot the warning signs should the worst happen.

Many of these pointers may seem obvious, but it is by dropping your guard that the fraudster ultimately will benefit.

Be secure

  • Always take particular care of your handbag or wallet and avoid carrying important documents such as passports around with you unless necessary.
  • Keep a note of important contact details to use if your cards, passport or driving license are either lost or stolen.
  • Keep your home secure and keep your personal documents locked away – burglars are increasingly searching for these documents rather than TVs and computers.
  • Redirect ALL post when moving house or business address to stop thieves getting hold of it.
  • Avoid using your mother’s maiden name or place of birth as a security password and never use the same password for more than one account.
  • Shred or rip up documents, receipts and bank statements when you dispose of them and regularly examine your bank and credit card statements for suspicious transactions. Also cut up old cards and cheque books and cancel them with your bank or card issuer.
  • Never give full security details or passwords to someone who calls and says they are from your bank or the police. Use the same practice for emails and never click on links in suspect messages, even if you think they are from your bank or the police. 
  • Check that web addresses change from ‘http://’ to the more secure ‘https://’ when buying something online and avoid online shopping and banking when using public wi-fi zones or shared computers.
  • Update and regularly use computer virus software and install a firewall to protect yourself from attack. Set firewalls to the highest available security level. For information see our guide to online safety.
  • Never write down passwords or Pins and shield the keypad when entering your Pin in shops or at cash machines.

Further to these steps, you are advised to check your credit reports regularly - about once a year - for unfamiliar items and take prompt action if you spot anything strange. Have a look at our report on credit scores.

If you are a victim, don't panic, but act quickly. Contact your card company or bank as soon as you spot any sign of identity fraud and call the police to get a crime number. Make a note of phone calls (the time, date and who you spoke to) and keep any correspondence.

 

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