Worried about a fraudulent credit card application

Adams1

bengalknights wrote: »

If its not in your name, have you just moved in? If not it could be just someone putting down the wrong address on the form.Best thing to do would be return to sender.

Hi, nope, been here for 15 years. Actually, through the plastic slip all it wrote was my address, and no name. (the name was there, but only after you opened the letter, way up.)

Hmm...

Adams1

VictimOfImpersonation wrote: »

No this is probably because either your postbox is vulnerable to having the post removed or there is someone bent at Royal Mail (probably the former - I have seen it happening). There are at least two types of account takeover fraud involving interception at your address of new cards in the post:

1. Simply intercepting enough of your post to impersonate you with a new application and then to revisit the same postbox to collect the new cards when they arrive or by reporting your existing cards lost and stolen so replacements are triggered (often with new PINs or PIN reminders)
2. Having managed to impersonate some other unfortunate elsewhere the fraudsters may see your postbox as an easier touch for multiple "collections" so will change the address on the strangers account so all new cards/correspondence comes to your address (naturally with a name you don't recognise but an address you do).

If it is one of the latter i.e. your address but a stranger's name, unless you really have only just moved in, do not simply return to sender. If you recognise it as credit card correspondence e.g. an MBNA or Barclaycard bill or even a card then I say open it (this is in theory perhaps unlawful but actually you will be doing everyone a favour) and telephone the card issuer involved immediately and explain what you think may be happening.

When I was targeted both the above types of takeover occurred using my postbox. I managed to notice and lock down my own accounts within a week but a month later I received two statements at my exact address in strangers names. I called both companies and in both cases it was the first notification to them that a fraud had occurred.

The fact that my address had already been tagged at CIFAS seemed to have made no difference. It was my own eagle detective work that stopped the second stream of fraud in its tracks.


Rest assured it is an enormous problem in the UK still being brushed under the carpet by government and is largely responsible for the extortionate rates of interest people have to pay if they do not pay their balances on credit cards in full each month.

If it hasn't happened to you yet, you cannot possibly imagine how much inconvenience it causes. If you haven't seen it happening then you would not believe how brazenly the "collectors" rifle through banks of postboxes at blocks of flats for example after the postman has been and while you are still at work.

Now that I think about it... This has happened to me a few times, but over the years. I just never really took any notice of it. The names are always African names of some sort. 2 months ago we received a letter from Halfords (again to someone else) saying an outstanding balance of £430 is still owed on a T.V. I now wish I had kept all the letters... I usually bin them.