Fraud on myself

Gaz84

Today after work I went over to my parents house. I lived there for 30 years, so I so have a history there. I had two pieces of post. One was a bank statement from Barclays, and the other from voda, a DD confirmation. I neither have a voda account or a Barclays account. After getting in touch with both and including action fraud, is there anything else I should do? Both have started a fraud investigation and Barclays have in particular been very good and placed a Cifas mark on the "dodgy details". I have no idea how anyone got my details. What is bizarre is that Barclays told me that the account has been active for some time but wouldn't tell me for how long. I'm assuming this Is a DWP fraud as a dwp giro was paid in and removed in cash later. What else can I do to protect myself. I fear there are gonna be more instances of fraud as the DD for voda had a sort code and partial access number thatcdosnt match the statement. Apart from keeping an eye on my credit files what else can I do ? And how would someone get enough details to do this?

Thanks

Willing2Learn

Hi,

Apart from reporting the crime to ActionFraud, you can also submit a Protective Registration with CIFAS.

https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection/protective-registration

D_M_E

You can also report it as fraud to the DWP https://www.gov.uk/report-benefit-fraud

PixelPound

Have you questioned your family, not to be pessimistic but a lot of this type of fraud is committed by someone who knows your details, and probably also know you no longer live at your parents. Have you checked all credit files in case there is other fraud done on you.

Gaz84

Hi, I understand the point you are making, only my parents live at the address and always save my post for me. They are both retired and live in relative financial security. In fact most of family have done well for themselves so I cant fathom it being one of them. Maybe I will mention something on the family group chat.

I have checked clearscore and MSE club

peterbaker

I would hesitate before praising Barclays any further. From what you have said, something has gone terribly wrong - if the bank statement was in your name, it appears that they have opened a new account in your name upon the instruction of a fraudster.

How could that have happened? What about their account opening requirement for PhotoID? How might that have been overcome? Has a fraudster obtained a photo of you or applied for a (lost) driving license or passport?

Has someone visited a Barclays branch and presented your drivers license stolen from the post and Barclays didn't notice?

Or was the Barclays bank statement in someone else's name but sent to your parent's address?

How is post left at your parents' address - can the postbox be "dipped". Is it in any way vulnerable?

I have just looked at Barclays website and discovered you can apply for an account online. Stands to reason I guess, when they are closing branches like they might be going out of fashion. There is an "ID Check" section to the online application. I would guess that bypasses any PhotoID requirement? Question might be "How?"

My nose senses that is where the vulnerability will lie. Anyone know better?

pimento

What's to stop you calling Barclays and asking them to change the password on "your" account. Then you can log in and see what's going on and close it.

AnotherJoe

Have your parents recently bought a new car and been on some cruises?

shortcrust

pimento wrote: »

What's to stop you calling Barclays and asking them to change the password on "your" account. Then you can log in and see what's going on and close it.

What a terrible idea! It's a bit difficult to claim it's nothing to do with you when they have a recording of you managing the account over the phone.

Gaz84

Oh wow. I didn't think of any of that.... although my dads new Ferrari has raised my eyebrows

In all seriousness. I have reported it all to the best of my knowledge. It's a residential house so not able to dip into it. I have had various credit offers come through (nothing unusual) and I just tore em up and threw them in the bin

peterbaker

Press the bank. This not a usual example of fraud. Credit card fraud is much more common. Ask if the current account was applied for in person at a a branch or over the internet, and what personal data was used, and also ask how the new sort code and account number was communicated. The Vodafone DD could not have been set up without it. They probably won't release any information though unless you are successful at rattling the people you speak with. It is not unheard of for their credit card arm, Barcaycard, to have accepted a duff application (largely false personal data other than basic name and address) and to have opened a credit card account online even with their automatic electronic links to Experian which should identify inconsistent new data and refuse a new account on that basis. Maybe they have a flakey online current account application system too.