Identity Theft and Bank Account opening

New_and_Improved_Me

Hi all,

I found out yesterday that someone impersonated me and opened a bank account in my name with NatWest.

I only found out about it when I got 2 letters from 2 different mobile providers that DD had been setup on the account.

I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE BANK AND THE MOBILE PHONE PROVIDERS AND ITS BEING DEALT WITH.

Now the thing that surprised me and worries me is that when I spoke to the Bank they advised me that this account had been open for over a month with transactions taking place (Credit/Debit) for almost a month.

Isn’t it normal practice for banks to send letters to the HOME ADDRESS when
any new accounts are opened??

It’s been over a month and the only way o found out that someone had stolen my identity and opened an account was because the phone providers sent me DD letters.

Are banks really that laid back about opening accounts, ive not opened a new account in many many years. What ID/proof of address do you need to provide to open an account?

And on top of that I was advised that the DOB was actually different on the account to what mine actually is. Are banks really that stupid that they don’t verify these kind of errors//omissions with the individual opening the account with background checks when they open account??

pqrdef

New_and_Improved_Me wrote: »

Are banks really that laid back about opening accounts, ive not opened a new account in many many years. What ID/proof of address do you need to provide to open an account?

Basically none. If the impostor applies online, the computer will send off his data to the CRA and if it matches, he's passed the ID check, and nobody has an idea whether it's you or somebody else.

A discrepancy on date of birth should be flagged up, but they may ignore little things like that.

In any case, there are sometimes two people with the same name at the same address, and the date of birth is the only way to tell them apart. So the impostor could have created a false ID at the CRA with a different date of birth, as if he were your father or son or uncle or nephew. That is, instead of impersonating you, he's just impersonated somebody who doesn't exist.

This is bad news. CIFAS will flag your ID as having been used for fraud and you'll get blacklisted, and nobody will ever believe that you're really you.

New_and_Improved_Me

That's -re-assuring NOT...:(..

To be honest...i didn't think about the On-Line angel......but do banks not send out confirmation letters for on-line account....or even one to the home address...even if you choose to do everything by email.

I feel violated...:(

On-line systems needs to be looked at. I will be speaking to the Bank again at some point...i was assured that someone will contact me within 48 hours to speak to me.....when i reported it to their fraud department....but as of yet nothing....its been 24 hours....

ColdIron

It's surprising what gets through the system, I applied in branch for a new TSB account on Monday. The ID check came up with a warning so the girl phoned the relevant department and after some time she got authorisation. Sadly the computer session had timed out so she had to enter all the details again. While she was re-entering the data I noticed she had entered my middle name from my passport into the surname field so the non-existent Cold Rudyard at my address got through instead of Cold Iron

An innocent mistake in this case but no system is watertight

pqrdef

I shouldn't complain - I've got no ID, so I'll become a non-person if the system changes.

roxy28

New_and_Improved_Me wrote: »

To be honest...i didn't think about the On-Line angel......but do banks not send out confirmation letters for on-line account....or even one to the home address...even if you choose to do everything by email....

So far every account opened online i have recived letters about each one,

Dimey

Could the identity thief be close enough to steal your post?

New_and_Improved_Me

Dimey wrote: »

Could the identity thief be close enough to steal your post?

I really don't know....the Bank account branch was openedabout 200miles away....but could be that they drove away to do the scam....

So effing annoying....and just found out they took insurance and another contract with three and O2 too....

They are having a whale of a time with my ID....:mad::mad:

Whats more worrying is that they managed to set up a DD on MY account with three...i use to have a contract with three many years ago on that account.....

I think they rang three and they just retrieved my old details and did it....so effing annoying....looks like they have a nice new shiney phone.....or a few nice new shiney phones....:mad::mad::mad::mad:

pmduk

You can take out protective registration with CIFAS. It means that any applications in your name get extra attention. NB this will apply to any applications made by yourself, but you may like the additional protection.

Dimey

I guess Posters will know standard things do to in this type of awful situation, like the CIFAS tip.
Would you close your bank account and open a new one with a different account number at your bank?

innovate

I reckon it could be as simple as the mistake being with the mobile phone companies.

The person happens to have the same name as you do, but a different DOB and address. They then went ahead and bight some mobile contracts with a provider who happens to have your data on file from the past. The mobile provider messed up and is using your address. The original person knows nothing about it - and is paying their phone contracts from their account, with their money.

What I find slightly staggering is that the bank has apparently shared details about the account with you (DOB, place account was opened) before they even had investigated the matter.