Someone fraudently applied for a credit card in my name

Impy_2

I had a letter this morning refusing a credit card - and I hadn't applied for it!

I phoned Virgin Money and spoke to the fraud dept. They asked a few questions and it became clear that someone applying for a credit card had used my correct name, DOB and address - but other details about me were incorrect.

I was asked if I was or had ever been a company director ( I am), and was told that there is a growing trend of directors details being used to try to fraudently get credit.

The person I spoke to has put a "protection mark" in my credit reference file with my daytime phone number so that any application for credit can be checked with me.

Should I do anything else?
I don't want to leave it at that then find at a later date that my identity has been stolen.
What can be accessed with name, DOB and address?
How worried should I be?

Smiley_Mum

Apply for your credit files from Experian and Equifax to see if there are any discrepancies. You should be able to access them online, free in some cases. Be very careful about any paperwork with names, addresses, DOB on etc, shred everything, cross cut.

Crosscut shredder Info

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=284823&highlight=cross+cut+shredders

Credit Check Info

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=295307&highlight=stolen+ID

Impy_2

Thanks Smiley_Mum - I'll do that.

I'm already pretty diligent about shredding things. The suggestion was that my details were taken off the Companies House register - so not much I can do about that.

anniecave

It's not freely available from companies house though is it? The basic webcheck we use at work that's generally available on the net doesn't have names of directors on it, I think you have to pay for that sort of thing separately.

I don't get it, if they applied with your address, if you'd (or rather they'd) been accepted, the card would have come to you, so what would the fraudster have got out of it?

littlejimmy

Common type of fraud these days is to open account in a persons name, with correct name and address, probably different phone number, wait a few days and ring the CC company to change the address PRIOR to the card being sent out! That's why it's a good policy to send out a PIN immediately a CC application is accepted that way the real house holder gets some warning!