How to stop fraudsters opening a credit card in my name?

ddavies

I have just found out someone (somehow) has used my credit card fraudently. Now I am worried what else this person could do. Could they open another credit card in my name?

If they can how do I stop it? Will opening an account with a credit reference agencies help?


Is it possible to freeze any further credit card applications because you can do this in america, this stops anyone including yourself from opening another credit card.

thanks.

peterbaker

Yes, ddavies,
www.cifas.org.uk

This will cause all credit applications made in your name to be flagged back to the provider at application stage for special referral.

The credit card bank you mentioned may already have registered your details with CIFAS.

There are a number of ways that your card could have been compromised - here are just a few:

(1) Your card details skimmed or copied by an unscrupulous retailer
(2) Your existing card reported lost or stolen by a fraudster who has just enough of your personal details to convince the bank it's you that's calling. Then they intercept the card and PIN reminder/PIN reissue in the post or in your postbox - they are expecting it and you are not.
(3) They manage to change your address and / or redirect your post to an address that they can control.

The other thing you can do is register with Equifax or Experian for their alerts service which will notify you within a day or so of any new activity on your credit file.

ddavies

Many thanks. The worrying thing is they must have got my details online as I have never used my card anywhere else.

James

You may like to try something a lot more effective and cheaper than CIFAS Protection Registration. Plus the system described below works with ALL lenders and not just CIFAS Members.

Click here.

INT1

Major lenders use CIFAS and Hunter.

If your worried about being impersonated, as previously suggested-apply to get a protective registration marker with CIFAS for about £15.

You will get a protective marker added if you have been a victim. This marker should be added by the financial institution where the fraud was applied for.

James

wrangler5 wrote: »

It's getting a bit tedious now James. Your poxy thumb print idea (which most lenders refuse to accept anyway, leading to months of letter writing) will not give an instant solution like CIFAS does.

Wrangler,

You've got the complete wrong end of the stick.

The Thumbprint thing as you call it has nothing to do with lenders accepting a print or not. What it has to do with is for lenders to make sure they've a print on any application, which is the lender following your terms and conditions. End of Story.

Thumbprinting' was first used to deter ID Theft (Application) Fraud almost 6 years ago. Since then there have been no recorded cases of anyone embracing this system falling victim to ID Theft.





Can I refer you to BBC'S Moneybox and Equifax's Neil Munro.

peterbaker

FWIW, I agreewithJames!

Sure it would make applications slower, but the fast pace of instant online account applications, and instant online account access for everything including full credit reports :eek: is, I am quite sure, the main factor causing the out of control IdentityFraud phenomenum we have right now.

Back to basics, I say