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Identity theftAnother card fraud that affected an estimated 130,000 people in 2004, and is predicted to grow more after the introduction of chip and PIN, is identity theft. It takes two forms: - Application fraud - criminals use fake or stolen documents to open card accounts in your name;
- Account takeover - criminals gather enough information to pass themselves off as you and get your mail redirected to a new address. They then report a card as lost and request a replacement.
As a victim of identity theft, the problems you may face include rogue transactions on statements, bills turning up for card accounts you don't have or goods you haven't bought, debt collectors arriving on your doorstep, and being refused credit because of damage to your credit rating.
Crooks use a variety of ways to get hold of the documents or information they need to pass themselves off as the genuine cardholder. For example, if your bag is snatched or your house broken into, documents, credit cards and so on may be stolen. Bin raiding is another source with fraudsters searching through your rubbish sacks looking for documents carrying personal and account information. Another ploy is to steal your post before you get it from, say, your mailbox or porch.
Fraudsters may persuade you to volunteer sensitive information. For example, you might get a phoney phone call (or letter, fax or email) from a fraudster posing as an official from, say, your bank asking you to give personal or account details as a security check.
If you are an Internet user, beware of bogus websites. These work in various ways. For example, a website may seem to be offering a genuine deal. But after you have gone to the payment section and keyed in your personal and card details, a message comes up to say your order cannot be processed at this time. Alternatively, you get a seemingly genuine email from a bank or other organisation you deal with asking you to follow a link and key information into a website that looks very similar to the firm's own site but is in reality fake. Identity fraudBe aware that documents carrying your full name and address, whole credit or debit card numbers, or whole bank account numbers and sort codes, and whole utility bills can all be used to steal your identity. So dispose of receipts, statements, bills and even personalised junk mail carefully, preferably by shredding or burning.
To guard against theft, don't carry around documents, credit cards, chequebooks and so on unnecessarily. When not required, store them securely at home or, if you are away, in a hotel safe.
Always check statements as soon as you receive them and contact the card issuer concerned immediately if there are any transactions you don't recognise. Close any accounts you no longer use - a dormant account could be taken over without your realising.
Draw up a list of your regular bills and statements and the dates on which you expect them to arrive. If they don't turn up, assume they might have been stolen and report your suspicions to the Royal Mail (see "Further information"). Check whether they have received a request without your consent to redirect your mail to another address.
Always be suspicious if you receive an unsolicited phone call, email or fax and do not give out personal or account information.
What if they're stolen?If any documents or cards are stolen, assume that they will fall into the hands of fraudsters and take steps to prevent their misuse: - Contact card issuers immediately to cancel the cards.
- Apply for protective registration. This is a service offered by CIFAS (see "Further information") and costs £11.75. When anyone applies for credit using your details, any credit provider who is a CIFAS member (most are) will check to see if you have an entry on the CIFAS Register, in which case the credit provider will make extra security checks before agreeing to the credit.
- Contact the three UK credit reference agencies and ask to be sent monthly copies of your credit files so that you can check and spot straight away if someone is falsely applying for credit in your name. You have the right to correct inaccurate entries on your files caused, for example, by fraud.
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