ni number

Markm

I don't know if this is the right place to post this but I need some advice. I think someone that I know had access to my ni number. If this is all that they have of mine, should I be worried? I read on the web about identity fraud and benefits claims....

molerat

Your NI number is just one of the jigsaw pieces that could be used in ID fraud. Many people will have access to that number, bank staff, your employer's payroll staff, job centre staff etc. Write a cheque to someone and they have your bank details, pay by card they have your card details. Don't worry about it unless you are certain that they may try to use the information.

John_Pierpoint

I have an acquaintance who had his NI number "stolen" and used by someone else. [Possibly by an asylum seeker wanting to work and earn money or possibly just a typing error.]
He had something of a difficulty sorting out that mess, with the situation threatening his benefits.

I always thought that the NI number incorporated a "check digit" (ie there is a numerical relationship between the numbers and characters of the rest of the code and the check digit; thus making typing errors almost impossible, when a computer is checking the code on entry)
BUT is seems the UK system is not that clever!?! [Unlike the VAT number].

John.