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Identity theft happens when fraudsters access enough information about someone’s identity (such as their name, date of birth, current or previous addresses) to commit a fraud. Identity theft can take place whether the victim is alive or deceased.
An identity thief can use a number of methods to find out your personal information and will then use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and apply for state benefits in your name. To assist you we have put together this guidance.
Here’s what to do. Ask them to withhold pending transactions and ask about their claims process if any money has been taken fraudulently. This should include bank accounts, email addresses...
- What Is Identity Theft and Fraud?
- What Impact Does Identity Fraud have?
- How Does Identity Fraud Affect Your Credit Report?
- Steps to Take After Identity Fraud
Identity theft is the process by which someone steals sensitive information, either personal or financial in nature, in order to assume your identity. Identity fraud is when a case of identity theft leads to fraudulent criminal activity. You can read more about the process of identity theft and the growth of fraudulent activity in our Identity Thef...
The consequences of identity fraud will depend on the nature of the crime committed. If fraudsters gain direct access to your bank account or credit cards, they may leave you with no funds to pay for everyday living costs. In this story on fraud, an individual handed over both his cards and PIN code during a telephone phishing scam and subsequently...
Identity fraudcan have a significant effect on your credit history. If a fraudster uses your existing credit or applies for new credit this could leave a footprint of debt or missed payments on your credit report. Even if the criminal applies for credit and is rejected this can still have a negative effect on your credit history as each application...
If you think you have been a victim of identity theft or notice fraudulent activity in your financial accounts, there are several steps you should take. Firstly, contact your bank and/or card issuer and inform them of what has happened, they can then review any unusual activity and cancel or freeze any stolen credit cards or compromised accounts. Y...
- Protect your address. If you start getting post for someone you don’t know, try to find out why. Lenders use the electoral roll to check who’s registered as living at a particular address.
- Protect your bank accounts. Be extremely wary of unsolicited phone calls, letters or emails from your bank or other financial institution asking you to confirm your
- Protect your phone. Never reply to unsolicited text messages, even to get them stopped. Simply delete them. Sign up to the Telephone Preference Service to prevent marketing phone calls.
- Protect your computer. Keep your computer security programs, such as antivirus and firewall, up to date. Make sure your web browser and operating system are the latest version.
Oct 16, 2023 · Follow this 12-step guide to learn exactly what to do if your identity is stolen, from contacting relevant companies to placing a freeze on your credit report.
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If your identity has been stolen, you should contact your bank, credit card company and the local police on the non-emergency phone number, 101, as soon as possible to let them know the situation. You can also report the fraud via Action Fraud , the police’s fraud-reporting service.
