Free Identity Fraud Protection

James

More Data Lost, Missing or Unaccounted for.

Northern Ireland DVLA. 6000 & Leeds Building Society. 1

goonster_2

I think more banks and the government should be doing this! Just been on the barclycard website (barclaycard.co.uk) and they are giving away 10,000 identity protection policies when you buy it online. Product used to cost £59.99 and the offer ends on Tuesday 18th!Get in there!

goonster_2

Def don't think its worth purchasing this type of cover and def a total rip off. However i've just applied for a free policy from barclaycard.co.uk - they are giving away 10,000 of them - offer ends Tuesday 18th if anyone is interested. Like i said before though - free is def how it should be.

bobmccluckie

just signed up for the Capitalone free credit report service. Great idea and thanks for the heads up, the Capitalone site gives no mention of it. I had to google 'capital one free credit check' to find where they'd buried it on the site.

SonOfPearl

The free Capital One credit check service seems to be at this address. :T

x3ja

Rang Capital One Helpline about someone who has been applying for cards etc in my name. Basically they told me because no money had changed hands that they couldn't do anything and suggested I called the companies named on my report. They did actually say at one point "all we can do is give advice to prevent ID theft"... a bit flaming late! :mad:

Anyway, having now called Equifax (free instant reports with Cap One card - phew, something good! - thanks to MSE for pointing it out, I'd have missed it), CIFAS, 3 companies and the police, I may get the fraudulent accounts and addresses removed from my report!

It's not easy and it's a big waste of my time, but it's got to be done.

Worst thing is that I know who did it... a so-called "friend"... grr :mad:

James

x3ja wrote: »

Anyway, having now called Equifax (free instant reports with Cap One card - phew, something good! - thanks to MSE for pointing it out, I'd have missed it), CIFAS, 3 companies and the police, I may get the fraudulent accounts and addresses removed from my report!

It's not easy and it's a big waste of my time, but it's got to be done.

Worst thing is that I know who did it... a so-called "friend"... grr :mad:

It's a lot easier to prevent this happening to you in the first instance.

If you had used the www.freeidportection.co.uk system in the unlikely event of someone doing this to you, YOU Could have proved it was them or held the card issuer responsible.

You mention CIFAS well here's how their Protective Registration System is described (The Devil Is In The Detail):

When you request CIFAS Protective Registration, a CIFAS warning flag is placed against your address indicating that you have been recorded on the CIFAS fraud prevention database at your own request. Therefore, when you apply for credit, insurance or other products such as mobile phone contracts, this warning flag will be seen by the product/service provider (the CIFAS Member - such as a bank, building society or insurance provider). The Member is thus alerted and prompted to undertake additional verification checks to ascertain that the application is genuinely from you and not from a fraudster trying to commit identity theft. This may mean that you personally experience delays while your credentials are fully checked, but this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you gain in return.

Not ALL lenders are CIFAS members, therefore YOU are not Fully Covered. This system is address based too.

The FREE ID PROTECTION SYSTEM alerts ALL those who access your Credit Files and not just CIFAS Members. It is absolutely free to enrol into, however if you wish to submit an application you'll need an Inkless Thumbprint Pad, costing around £5 and producing 1000 prints. Pads are widely available for numerous souces. Becuase YOU've initiated a warning to ALL lenders, just like CIFAS PROTECTIVE REGISTRATION, applications may take a little longer, a small price to pay for peace of mind.

CIFAS Protective Registration Article: Click here.

ID Theft Subscriptions. Are they worth the money. Click here.

reheat

James wrote: »

Prevention is better than cure:

Try this for size:

www.freeidprotection.co.uk

The site looks a bit "home made" ... how confident are you it is a genuine site, and not itself phishing for personal details ... not least of which your thumb print?! If you send them your thumb print - the ultimate ID guarantee - how confident could we bit that it won't fall into the wrong hands? Not wanting to be a damp squib - just very cautious.

James

reheat wrote: »

The site looks a bit "home made" ... how confident are you it is a genuine site, and not itself phishing for personal details ... not least of which your thumb print?! If you send them your thumb print - the ultimate ID guarantee - how confident could we bit that it won't fall into the wrong hands? Not wanting to be a damp squib - just very cautious.

The site doesn't ask for any type of payment or personal details. It does allow you to download Free of Charge letters to send to the 3 Credit Refence Agencies, Equifax, Experian and Call Credit - Their address's are on the letter heads, but you can check address's on their web sites.


You don't need to Thumbprint the letters you send to the 3 Credit Reference Agencies, but it does deter spoofing.

As for any applications YOU submit with your signature and PRINT is stays on your application and remains with the Bank or Credit Facilitator it doesn't go anywhere else and noone will look at it UNLESS it's a fraudulent application. CIFAS Protective Registration is a PASSWORD based system therefore a lot less secure.

The East of Scotland Fraud Forum, adminstered by Lothain & Borders Police posted the following:

Click here.

and Robert Goodwill MP has information on his website too:

Click here.

By visiting the website and using the information available you can get a FREE Credit Report if you so wish from Annual Credit Report (no card details or financial committment requried).

Equifax too (although dificult to find) have information on their website:

Click here.

steve6375

re. Free ID Protection
What happens if some fraudster applies using their fingerprint (or perhaps one of their childrens fingers/thumb so there is no police record of it) but using my name and ID details. Would this prevent me from applying for any credit in the future - or even worse, could I end up getting a visit from the police and if so, how do I prove that I am the victim?

How do Experian and the others check the fingerprints to prove that they are not the same as mine, should they need to? How do they know whose fingerprint is whose? Would I have to go into a police station with my passport and be fingerprinted in front of the police?

Why not register all our fingerprints and our DNA fingerprint on a police database?