Identity theft - thanks Barclays

Madbags

I'd imagine you can just log into your online account to change your address. You can with Barclaycard so maybe you can with Barclays current accounts too.


Perhaps they opened the account, simply moved house not long after and entered the wrong address details.


In any case why not return it to sender with "Not at this address" rather than opening it. I'm sure whoever it is will find out eventually when they aren't getting their statements or fail security when trying to call them.

Shakin_Steve

Madbags wrote: »

I'd imagine you can just log into your online account to change your address. You can with Barclaycard so maybe you can with Barclays current accounts too.


Perhaps they opened the account, simply moved house not long after and entered the wrong address details.


In any case why not return it to sender with "Not at this address" rather than opening it. I'm sure whoever it is will find out eventually when they aren't getting their statements or fail security when trying to call them.

I tried that with Barclays when we moved last year and it wouldn't let me without ringing up, even though the site said I could do it if I had a pin sentry.

youngretired

You have said that it has affected others things i.e. phone's. Are these also in the same name as the Barclays statement?

It might be that a new house/flat has been built and the address isn't on the companies system but the number is similar to yours so it has defaulted to yours. My parents had this problem when new builds were built next to them and had the same number but a and b. They had problems with their energy being changed due to the correct house not being recognised on the energy companies system and have had pizza deliveries meant for the other houses.

Shakin_Steve

youngretired wrote: »

You have said that it has affected others things i.e. phone's. Are these also in the same name as the Barclays statement?

It might be that a new house/flat has been built and the address isn't on the companies system but the number is similar to yours so it has defaulted to yours. My parents had this problem when new builds were built next to them and had the same number but a and b. They had problems with their energy being changed due to the correct house not being recognised on the energy companies system and have had pizza deliveries meant for the other houses.

I'd have queried the energy bills but eaten the pizzas.

Imnoexpert_2

I am the OP

1. What have Barclays done wrong?
I really can't say (and didn't) if they have done wrong or not, because they haven't (and there may be good reasons) divulged the basis on which they opened the account. I hope it's on the basis of false documents, not stolen ones of mine.

Another company they have subsequently contacted and opened an account with at my address dealt with it far far better and without compromising data. They asked for my phone number, my date of birth, and quoted the last 3 digits of a bank account used by the fraudster. They ten said that none of these personal data had been used. This put my mind at rest that it was address theft rather than identity theft.

2. This isn't an accident, bad typing or anything like that. 3 separate companies have been duped. As to not opening the post - I'm glad I did because it has saved Vodafone, EE, Plusnet, and Barclays from being robbed! Doubt they will thank me though.

3. Is it identity theft, and have I lost out? I don't want to deal in technicalities but I think it is identity theft. While I haven't lost money my Telephone and internet supplier were in the process of closing my account and transferring it to another supplier (without telling me I should add). So I would have been personally affected, and suffered loss. Loss of internet during the switch, time sorting it out, and who knows what other consequential losses.

So far my name hasn't been used, but once an address is established and set up on various accounts my details could easily be found (I have in a minor way a public profile) and used.

4 I appreciate that courts and baliffs and CCJs could be fought off, and I would be capable of doing that and wouldn't lose any sleep but when I am away from home my wife and young family may not be so robust whne the baliffs are at the door!

As I say I'm honest so don't know all the implications.

Thanks for your help all. Today for the first time this week no new credit accounts opened by the fraudster!

badger09

OP

Have all the accounts been opened in the same name?

I'm puzzled as to what a fraudster would gain by switching your telephone & internet supplier. You/your home would still have the service, just from a provider not of your choice:cool:

Have you considered this, in case you don't get to the bottom of it?

https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

Shakin_Steve

If I was in the OP's position, I would be very worried. It doesn't matter how much reassurance you get from others, it's someone messing with your life and you are powerless to identify them. I hope this arrives at some sort of conclusion because, even if everything goes quiet, I would still be anxious about the situation. Human nature and all that.

Imnoexpert_2

Thanks Badger

It all seems very odd to me, that's really why I was looking for some thoughts.

I suppose if I was to bump into an illegal immigrant who had just fallen off the back of a lorry and was able to give him a bank statement in his name, a mobile phone, a couple of letters from utility companies, and an address he might bung me a few quid. Add a national insurance number maybe. Perhaps even suggest he could go to the address and have a look through the bin? Maybe take a jemmie with you in case the house is quiet or on a hot summer evening when a window might be open......

Mrs Imnoexpert has certainly thought about this!

Perhaps this is the new career I've been looking for......

IAmWales

Imnoexpert wrote: »

Thanks Badger

It all seems very odd to me, that's really why I was looking for some thoughts.

I suppose if I was to bump into an illegal immigrant who had just fallen off the back of a lorry and was able to give him a bank statement in his name, a mobile phone, a couple of letters from utility companies, and an address he might bung me a few quid. Add a national insurance number maybe. Perhaps even suggest he could go to the address and have a look through the bin? Maybe take a jemmie with you in case the house is quiet or on a hot summer evening when a window might be open......

Mrs Imnoexpert has certainly thought about this!

Perhaps this is the new career I've been looking for......

Mrs Imnoexpert needs to get her head out of the Daily Fail. Illegal immigrants are few and far between, perhaps you mean failed asylum seekers of whom there are more but they're not illegal per se. I work with both these groups through charity work and the last thing on their minds is some elaborate fraud or theft.

Imnoexpert_2

Wish I hadn't added the last post. I take it back. Humour rarely works online.

I have no idea who the scammer is and any number of people could be in the market for false identities. As a matter of interest, and it means little the name that is being used by the scammer is most common in and East European EU member state and anyone from there can come to the UK anyway.

I should also add that Mrs Imnoexpert is a representative of an ethnic minority group (come to think of it Iamwales you may be too! - oh no I must try to stop being funny!)