ID Theft - A Victim :(

RRRRodgA

James wrote: »

Steps I would have taken and you still can.

I suggest that the best way of protecting yourself in is to have a look a Free ID Protection.

There's a page on the site giving you the Pros and Cons of this system.

You can also get more information on ID theft etc on the Action Fraud website.

Consider the pros and cons of Free ID protection, CIFAS Protective Registration or the advice on the Action Fraud website.

I'd also get a copy of your £2 Credit Files from ALL 3 Credit Reference Agencies:
Equifax
Experian
CallCredit.

Decide which is best for you and good luck.

Thanks, as I've already checked CallCredit I can see no searches there. I will sign up for the free trial for Experian in addition(Equifax process is underway should be confirmed tomorrow) and check what's happening there. *Don't worry I'll be sure to cancel within 30days*

I'll look into Thumbprint thing, from what I understand it replaces the signature however would that mean any applications for credit will be delayed any further? Also does it affect some applications also?

Police done their search with nothing coming on their database and numbers were, as expected, falsified. They've told me to get in touch if anything else appears or I find out any information from the Credit Ref Agencies.

Still worrying enough Very are happy to give credit simply upon a name and address, no bank acc details required.

James

RRRRodgA wrote: »

I'll look into Thumbprint thing, from what I understand it replaces the signature however would that mean any applications for credit will be delayed any further? Also does it affect some applications also?

Police done their search with nothing coming on their database and numbers were, as expected, falsified. They've told me to get in touch if anything else appears or I find out any information from the Credit Ref Agencies.

Still worrying enough Very are happy to give credit simply upon a name and address, no bank acc details required.

The Thumbprint doesn't replace your signature, it only verifies it if it is every brought into question




In your case, if you'd had signed up for the Thumbprint thing@

1. Would a criminal have submitted their print?
2. Would a criminal have known that you subscribed to Thumbprinting?
3. If credit had been granted by Very,could you have held Very liable for not following the instruction in your Notice of Correction, ie an application form submitted without a print.(This has never been tested as no one using the system has fallen victim to ID Theft yet).
4. If a print had been used to verify the signature then you could have easily proven it wasn't your.

Re Very and being worried - the above explains I hope how to hold them (and any other bank/lender) accountable for following your terms and conditions.

Anyway, good luck whatever you decide.

BluKernel

Having experienced the same "scam" this week - can I ask whether this has been resolved and how long it has taken?

I have reported it Monday both to Very and the Police but have not seen any progress so far.

I have got my statutory credit reports on Monday but I don't believe they update unless you sign for the trials; should I ask them whether there are any changes, sign up for trials and get "live" data or keep buying them every week?

While my case is very similar to the OP's, the way my identity was "leaked" may be useful for other people to protect themselves against.

While Very's fraud department seems to be familiar with it - although not familiar enough to "catch it" - nor I nor my friends were aware that something like this could work. I just want to get more confirmation before posting.


BTW. I just signed up for the "thumbprint thing" and posted letters to all 3. I understand the implications but at this time the "cure" is probaly worth it - let's hope it works.

Thank you to all who posted here and especially OP and James below. It has helped a lot.

DavidDebt

I have got my statutory credit reports on Monday but I don't believe they update unless you sign for the trials; should I ask them whether there are any changes, sign up for trials and get "live" data or keep buying them every week?

If you submit a request for a statutory credit report from a CRA it will contain the most up to date info when you requested it. Once generated it wont update again until you get another statutory report. But at £2 a pop it's still considerably cheaper than the paid services!!

DavidDebt

BluKernel wrote: »

I have got my statutory credit reports on Monday but I don't believe they update unless you sign for the trials; should I ask them whether there are any changes, sign up for trials and get "live" data or keep buying them every week?

If you submit a request for a statutory credit report from a CRA it will contain the most up to date info when you requested it. Once generated it wont update again until you get another statutory report. But at £2 a pop it's still considerably cheaper than the paid services!!

BluKernel

Thank you, will get new copies on Monday.

1. From what I see, the "alerts" are only useful if you pay at least 2 or all 3 credit agencies.

For me, it shows on only one of them, so if I had alterts on just one but not the others it would not helped. So you'd have to pay for alerts with all of them.

Even then 7-day alterts don't seem that useful to me; only 24h would have allowed me to catch it earlier.


2. What would help is a "service" where you are asked whether it is OK to do a search of your file. So, if registered, be asked that "XYZ wants to perform a search - is this OK?" which you can allow or deny. (e-mail, sms, post, etc.)

None seem to offer anything like this.


3. To me the CIFAS "warning" does not make sense: unless they think I commited the fraud (first person fraud?) why is the victim penalised instead of the institution that did the checks and failed to spot it?

Surely there should be a CIFAS warning for the institution in question to have more stringent checks?

Otherwise, it is only the victim that "pays" with extra checks in the future even if innocent.


4. I'm thinking the thumb-print registration was a bit of an overreaction - unless impersonated again - and while good for peace of mind, it would still cause extra issues in the future.

For example, would I still be able to get on-line statutory reports or just by post accompanied by my thumb-print every time?

I'm not trying to knock it - just wondering if an institution is happy to provide credit "easily" would they "notice your note"? You will have an easier time convincing them it was not you for sure, but you'd still end up with the CIFAS warning yourself.

I hope some of the above make sense