Identity Theft

Nerruse

Hello

I'm not entirely sure I am in the right place but my 68-year old mother is the victim of identity theft.

She only became aware of it earlier today when she received a letter from Clearance365 and Kaleidoscope asking her to verify that she wanted to open online accounts. After speaking to them, an order was placed on the 17th October but they suspected fraud and put the order on hold.

I've run her credit report on MSE Credit Club and Credit Karma and there have been accounts opened with SimplyBe, Jamaco and Fashion World. We haven't been able to get in touch with these yet. There's also searches for New Day (I assume Marbles) credit card (but just a quotation) and Studio Retail Ltd (guess another mail order company).

I'm a little bit lost with how to proceed next, please can you help?

N.

[Deleted User]

Contact the lenders/creditors.
Contact action fraud.
Contact CIFAS.

Ben8282

The strange thing is that if these mail order accounts have been opened and appear on her credit files, then presumably they have been opened using her correct address which raises the question of where the mail order goods are being delivered to. There is also the question of how the identity thief obtained the necessary personal details relating to your mother in order to open these accounts.
With the greatest respect for your mother, are you sure that she is not becoming forgetful and opening the accounts herself or has opened the accounts and doesn't want to tell you or a family member has opened them?

Terry_Towelling

Welcome to the Forum, Nerruse. Sorry it has to be under these circumstances. Please keep us posted with what happens.

Nerruse

She doesn't really use the internet besides Facebook and playing games on her tablet. She even said she wouldn't know where to begin with filling out online applications.

I'm wondering if I can get one of them to disclose the delivery address, even if we have to do a SAR then maybe it'll give the police/Action Fraud something to work with

Nebulous2

Nerruse wrote: »

She doesn't really use the internet besides Facebook and playing games on her tablet. She even said she wouldn't know where to begin with filling out online applications.

I'm wondering if I can get one of them to disclose the delivery address, even if we have to do a SAR then maybe it'll give the police/Action Fraud something to work with

They wont tell you anything like that I'm afraid. We often get people posting annoyed that companies wont disclose details of fraud. What you need to remember is despite the hassle for your mother it will ultimately be the companies that are defrauded and not her.

Spend your energy doing the reporting, trying to improve her security and cleaning up her file, rather than pursuing the companies that should actually help.

There is a worrying thing though - a lot of this type of fraud is committed by people known to the person who has their identity stolen. That can cause family rifts and conflict in reporting to the police.

Nerruse

Nebulous2 wrote: »

They wont tell you anything like that I'm afraid. We often get people posting annoyed that companies wont disclose details of fraud. What you need to remember is despite the hassle for your mother it will ultimately be the companies that are defrauded and not her.

Spend your energy doing the reporting, trying to improve her security and cleaning up her file, rather than pursuing the companies that should actually help.

There is a worrying thing though - a lot of this type of fraud is committed by people known to the person who has their identity stolen. That can cause family rifts and conflict in reporting to the police.

Would this not fall within GDPR? It is her data. I already have suspicions on who it may be but I need the delivery address because I'm 95% sure the local police with tell us to jog on without something to back it up. They only needed her name, address and DOB so it smacks of someone who knows her personally.

Nebulous2

Nerruse wrote: »

Would this not fall within GDPR? It is her data. I already have suspicions on who it may be but I need the delivery address because I'm 95% sure the local police with tell us to jog on without something to back it up. They only needed her name, address and DOB so it smacks of someone who knows her personally.

My experience of GDPR doesn't extend much beyond my own workplace, but if you have told the company it is a fraudulent account they won't see it as her data. Someone else's address certainly isn't your mother's data.

If the company want to they can pursue it, as can the police, if they have the resources.

Follow the advice given earlier, report it to the companies and the police / action fraud, proactively chase to get the fraudulent accounts removed from your mother's credit record, consider a protective CIFAS registration.

Ben8282

I really would be surprised it the goods were being delivered to an address other than your mothers own address. The mail order people are not fools - new account - delivery to a different address - I think not.
You are correct that this smacks of somebody who knows her personally, In the unlikely event that the goods were being delivered elsewhere you will not be told the address. The reason is obvious.

Nerruse wrote: »

She doesn't really use the internet besides Facebook and playing games on her tablet. She even said she wouldn't know where to begin with filling out online applications.

She is only 68. You make her sound more like 108.

Terry_Towelling

Nerruse wrote: »

She doesn't really use the internet besides Facebook and playing games on her tablet. She even said she wouldn't know where to begin with filling out online applications.

She can't be that bad if she managed to work out how to fill out the Facebook application and is comfortable using a tablet. I hope she's happy with you revealing her age and making her out to be an old dodderer at just 68 - not that you actually needed to tell us her age at all.

Keep plugging away - you'll get this sorted soon enough.