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Protect Yourself From Identity Fraud

How do you check if you’ve been a victim of identity fraud?

Identity theft affects thousands of people every year, once a criminal has your personal details it is very easy for them to apply for credit cards, bank accounts, benefits and other official documentation in your name.  Although the financial loss is usually covered by the major banks it can take a very long time to resolve and in the meantime you could find it difficult to get credit cards, finance or even a mortgage until it is resolved.

So how do you know if you are a victim, you probably won’t until it is too late - so follow these simple steps to protect yourself.

Prevention is better then cure: 

1) Destroy any personal information before you put it in to the bin, shred anything with your details on do not just throw away, invest in a cross shredder.  This includes bank statements, bills, invoices, credit cards and debit card statements and any old cards and junk mail.
 
2) Always check your bank and credit card statements for any payments or direct debits that you are not aware of and report them to them immediately if you think they may be fraudulent.

3) Credit card bills or bank statements that stop being delivered, be aware of regular mail that goes missing.

4) Receiving letters or bills about things that you have supposedly signed up for or bought.

5) Inform your bank and other organisations well in advance before you move home and arrange with the Royal Mail to redirect your mail.

6) Inform the Royal Mail if you think some of your mail is going missing. If your post is delivered to a main point such as the hall of a block of flats, always collect it promptly.

7) Get regular copies of your credit report, there are three main credit report companies these are: Experian, Callcredit and Equifax. Check your report thoroughly and if you find any suspicious activity then contact the company in question immediately.
 
8) Inform the police if you think that your rubbish is being tampered with or if you think that your identity has been stolen even if you do not have any evidence.

9) Always report the loss of important documents to the company that issued you with them as well as the police.

10) If you are given credit by a lender that you did not apply to contact them immediately.

11) Stop Junk Mail - have your name removed from mailing lists, you can do this with the Mailing Preference Service who can remove your name from up to 95% of direct mailing lists.

12) Report any lost or stolen documents immediately.

13) Computers are being used more and more especially for shopping now and this could be your Achilles’ heel.   

a) Use a personal firewall to protect your computer when online.

b) Only buy from secure websites and even websites you know check the URL address".  For example the URL for Womesn Everything is http://www.womenseverything.com .  REMEMBER - if you are buying from a secure site the address when you come to enter any payment details it should change from "http" to "https"  - there should always be an s after the p.
      
c) Keep your protection software up to date.  Make sure your wireless connection is safe.

d) Do not open any suspicious emails that ask for personal information, banks never request this type of information by email.   

e) Be suspicious of unsolicited emails and certainly do not respond.        
                    
f) Be aware that fraudsters are now targeting networking websites such as Facebook and Myspace to obtain information on potential victims.  So keep your personal information safe.

g) Keep your passwords safe.

14) Be careful what personal details you store on your mobiles, PDA’s etc.

15) Destroy your hard drive before you throw your computer away.  For more information go to microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/australia/smallbusiness/issues/technology/protect/harddrive.mspx

Always be vigilant – and if it looks suspicious it probably is!!  For more information try The Fraud Advisory Panel

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