Identity Theft

woodenwheel

I have been the victim of identity theft with accounts opened in my name.
I have investigated the course of events and was staggered how easy it is to fraudulently open bank accounts. I believe I could do it in about half an hour for any given person - it is that easy.
The next shock I got was the lack of people/forums discussing this.
I am currently arguing with all parties (Banks, Credit Reference Companies etcetera) all of which say the are blameless and insinuate it was me or someone close to me who did this, which is not the case. They refuse to provide me with evidence (IP addresses, Photo IDs etcetera to substantiate their claims. Equally, they will not even contact ActionFraud with this evidence). So, not only is the fraud an easy thing to do, it is not even investigated. Actionfraud say they look for 'patterns' but 'do not investigate individual cases'. That's handy to know if you're a criminal: the fact no-one will even bother to investigate
Because I have uncovered security flaws which affect all these self-professed security experts (Banks and financial companies) where do I go now? I have contacted my MP, other than that, who else would be interested in this (Not Actionfraud, FCA etc.)
I know people reading this will think everything I have said is rubbish, but I'm just as incredulous that this situation exists and am more than happy to reveal how it's done to bona-fide people. Equally, there is not a single thing you can do to stop it happening to you: not a single thing
Incidently, two bank accounts still exist in my name with the banks and credit agencies refusing to remove them so there is a risk I'll have a visit by the fuzz any time now, assuming the accounts are used for criminal actions and anyone bothers to investigate

2021BJ

They're not going to hand evidence over to you.  It would be wholly inappropriate as well as potentially a breach of the GDPR (if it is identity theft as you claim these are not your accounts)

Report to Action Fraud, send the crime reference to the creditors and let them deal with it.

dr_adidas01

woodenwheel said:

I have been the victim of identity theft with accounts opened in my name.
I have investigated the course of events and was staggered how easy it is to fraudulently open bank accounts. I believe I could do it in about half an hour for any given person - it is that easy.
The next shock I got was the lack of people/forums discussing this.
I am currently arguing with all parties (Banks, Credit Reference Companies etcetera) all of which say the are blameless and insinuate it was me or someone close to me who did this, which is not the case. They refuse to provide me with evidence (IP addresses, Photo IDs etcetera to substantiate their claims. Equally, they will not even contact ActionFraud with this evidence). So, not only is the fraud an easy thing to do, it is not even investigated. Actionfraud say they look for 'patterns' but 'do not investigate individual cases'. That's handy to know if you're a criminal: the fact no-one will even bother to investigate
Because I have uncovered security flaws which affect all these self-professed security experts (Banks and financial companies) where do I go now? I have contacted my MP, other than that, who else would be interested in this (Not Actionfraud, FCA etc.)
I know people reading this will think everything I have said is rubbish, but I'm just as incredulous that this situation exists and am more than happy to reveal how it's done to bona-fide people. Equally, there is not a single thing you can do to stop it happening to you: not a single thing
Incidently, two bank accounts still exist in my name with the banks and credit agencies refusing to remove them so there is a risk I'll have a visit by the fuzz any time now, assuming the accounts are used for criminal actions and anyone bothers to investigate

Firstly this has been discussed many times on this forum there have been lots of post through the years of people experiencing the same issue as you have.

They won't give you any details about who has applied for any accounts in your name as its against data protection laws to give out information that could be used to tip off the fraudsters.

There is a single thing you can do to stop or at least slow down applications and that is to apply to cifas and get a protective registration placed on your credit files.  This will then be applied to any credit application that you make and organisations have to check that its really you that is making an application for credit.

Also they could be right that its someone close to you or someone you know that has applied for accounts in your name, generally as we have found out from posts on this forum its been a close family member or close friend that has done it.

woodenwheel

2021BJ said:

They're not going to hand evidence over to you.  It would be wholly inappropriate as well as potentially a breach of the GDPR (if it is identity theft as you claim these are not your accounts)

Report to Action Fraud, send the crime reference to the creditors and let them deal with it.

I have reported it to Actionfraud and now carry a card with me so I can quote the 'crime number' to any Bailiff, Policeman whom I am likely to have to deal with

The evidence gathered could but hasn't been passed or offered to Actionfraud. I love the fact that GDPR is being used to protect criminals. When I first heard that I laughed out loud

I feel the important thing here is the fact I can open bank accounts willy nilly

woodenwheel

dr_adidas01 said:

woodenwheel said:

I have been the victim of identity theft with accounts opened in my name.
I have investigated the course of events and was staggered how easy it is to fraudulently open bank accounts. I believe I could do it in about half an hour for any given person - it is that easy.
The next shock I got was the lack of people/forums discussing this.
I am currently arguing with all parties (Banks, Credit Reference Companies etcetera) all of which say the are blameless and insinuate it was me or someone close to me who did this, which is not the case. They refuse to provide me with evidence (IP addresses, Photo IDs etcetera to substantiate their claims. Equally, they will not even contact ActionFraud with this evidence). So, not only is the fraud an easy thing to do, it is not even investigated. Actionfraud say they look for 'patterns' but 'do not investigate individual cases'. That's handy to know if you're a criminal: the fact no-one will even bother to investigate
Because I have uncovered security flaws which affect all these self-professed security experts (Banks and financial companies) where do I go now? I have contacted my MP, other than that, who else would be interested in this (Not Actionfraud, FCA etc.)
I know people reading this will think everything I have said is rubbish, but I'm just as incredulous that this situation exists and am more than happy to reveal how it's done to bona-fide people. Equally, there is not a single thing you can do to stop it happening to you: not a single thing
Incidently, two bank accounts still exist in my name with the banks and credit agencies refusing to remove them so there is a risk I'll have a visit by the fuzz any time now, assuming the accounts are used for criminal actions and anyone bothers to investigate

Firstly this has been discussed many times on this forum there have been lots of post through the years of people experiencing the same issue as you have.

They won't give you any details about who has applied for any accounts in your name as its against data protection laws to give out information that could be used to tip off the fraudsters.

There is a single thing you can do to stop or at least slow down applications and that is to apply to cifas and get a protective registration placed on your credit files.  This will then be applied to any credit application that you make and organisations have to check that its really you that is making an application for credit.

Also they could be right that its someone close to you or someone you know that has applied for accounts in your name, generally as we have found out from posts on this forum its been a close family member or close friend that has done it.

I have, at my expense, taken CIFAS protection

This is not someone close to me

Again, the important thing here which I require advice on is the fact that I can open an account in anyone's name with the greatest of ease

dr_adidas01

woodenwheel said:

dr_adidas01 said:

woodenwheel said:

I have been the victim of identity theft with accounts opened in my name.
I have investigated the course of events and was staggered how easy it is to fraudulently open bank accounts. I believe I could do it in about half an hour for any given person - it is that easy.
The next shock I got was the lack of people/forums discussing this.
I am currently arguing with all parties (Banks, Credit Reference Companies etcetera) all of which say the are blameless and insinuate it was me or someone close to me who did this, which is not the case. They refuse to provide me with evidence (IP addresses, Photo IDs etcetera to substantiate their claims. Equally, they will not even contact ActionFraud with this evidence). So, not only is the fraud an easy thing to do, it is not even investigated. Actionfraud say they look for 'patterns' but 'do not investigate individual cases'. That's handy to know if you're a criminal: the fact no-one will even bother to investigate
Because I have uncovered security flaws which affect all these self-professed security experts (Banks and financial companies) where do I go now? I have contacted my MP, other than that, who else would be interested in this (Not Actionfraud, FCA etc.)
I know people reading this will think everything I have said is rubbish, but I'm just as incredulous that this situation exists and am more than happy to reveal how it's done to bona-fide people. Equally, there is not a single thing you can do to stop it happening to you: not a single thing
Incidently, two bank accounts still exist in my name with the banks and credit agencies refusing to remove them so there is a risk I'll have a visit by the fuzz any time now, assuming the accounts are used for criminal actions and anyone bothers to investigate

Firstly this has been discussed many times on this forum there have been lots of post through the years of people experiencing the same issue as you have.

They won't give you any details about who has applied for any accounts in your name as its against data protection laws to give out information that could be used to tip off the fraudsters.

There is a single thing you can do to stop or at least slow down applications and that is to apply to cifas and get a protective registration placed on your credit files.  This will then be applied to any credit application that you make and organisations have to check that its really you that is making an application for credit.

Also they could be right that its someone close to you or someone you know that has applied for accounts in your name, generally as we have found out from posts on this forum its been a close family member or close friend that has done it.

I have, at my expense, taken CIFAS protection

This is not someone close to me

Again, the important thing here which I require advice on is the fact that I can open an account in anyone's name with the greatest of ease

How do you know its not somebody close to you? They have to know enough about you to open an account, which suggests its someone who knows you. Or there could be another explanation which is that you have been careless with your personal information, for example not shredding important documents and the possibility that your computer has malware and keylogger software installed via a third party and its been giving your data away that way.

woodenwheel

dr_adidas01 said:

woodenwheel said:

dr_adidas01 said:

woodenwheel said:

I have been the victim of identity theft with accounts opened in my name.
I have investigated the course of events and was staggered how easy it is to fraudulently open bank accounts. I believe I could do it in about half an hour for any given person - it is that easy.
The next shock I got was the lack of people/forums discussing this.
I am currently arguing with all parties (Banks, Credit Reference Companies etcetera) all of which say the are blameless and insinuate it was me or someone close to me who did this, which is not the case. They refuse to provide me with evidence (IP addresses, Photo IDs etcetera to substantiate their claims. Equally, they will not even contact ActionFraud with this evidence). So, not only is the fraud an easy thing to do, it is not even investigated. Actionfraud say they look for 'patterns' but 'do not investigate individual cases'. That's handy to know if you're a criminal: the fact no-one will even bother to investigate
Because I have uncovered security flaws which affect all these self-professed security experts (Banks and financial companies) where do I go now? I have contacted my MP, other than that, who else would be interested in this (Not Actionfraud, FCA etc.)
I know people reading this will think everything I have said is rubbish, but I'm just as incredulous that this situation exists and am more than happy to reveal how it's done to bona-fide people. Equally, there is not a single thing you can do to stop it happening to you: not a single thing
Incidently, two bank accounts still exist in my name with the banks and credit agencies refusing to remove them so there is a risk I'll have a visit by the fuzz any time now, assuming the accounts are used for criminal actions and anyone bothers to investigate

Firstly this has been discussed many times on this forum there have been lots of post through the years of people experiencing the same issue as you have.

They won't give you any details about who has applied for any accounts in your name as its against data protection laws to give out information that could be used to tip off the fraudsters.

There is a single thing you can do to stop or at least slow down applications and that is to apply to cifas and get a protective registration placed on your credit files.  This will then be applied to any credit application that you make and organisations have to check that its really you that is making an application for credit.

Also they could be right that its someone close to you or someone you know that has applied for accounts in your name, generally as we have found out from posts on this forum its been a close family member or close friend that has done it.

I have, at my expense, taken CIFAS protection

This is not someone close to me

Again, the important thing here which I require advice on is the fact that I can open an account in anyone's name with the greatest of ease

How do you know its not somebody close to you? They have to know enough about you to open an account, which suggests its someone who knows you. Or there could be another explanation which is that you have been careless with your personal information, for example not shredding important documents and the possibility that your computer has malware and keylogger software installed via a third party and its been giving your data away that way.

I am willing to concede hacking, someone who knows me etcetera could be responsible for this - of course, anything is possible. However, I pieced together what happened and am confident I know how it was done.

I am less concerned about my own Identity Theft than the fact I have discovered the way to open fake accounts and no-one seems interested.

I am tempted to tell you all how to do it (as I said, I won't)

Notnewnotold

If it really is that easy for you to do, and you want it to get National attention, then here's a suggestion:

1) Open accounts for several high profile people (Boris, the Queen, Martin Lewis, that sort of thing). Make sure you are using a VPN
2) Write to them all anonymously explaining how easy it was to do, and that you're not a criminal but an 'ethical hacker'. Maybe put a tenner each into their accounts to show your good intentions.
3) Copy notes to all the major papers and BBC

Given apparently no-one is investigating this, it will very likely achieve your aims with no comeback to you. Jobs a good-un.

2021BJ

woodenwheel said:

2021BJ said:

They're not going to hand evidence over to you.  It would be wholly inappropriate as well as potentially a breach of the GDPR (if it is identity theft as you claim these are not your accounts)

Report to Action Fraud, send the crime reference to the creditors and let them deal with it.

I have reported it to Actionfraud and now carry a card with me so I can quote the 'crime number' to any Bailiff, Policeman whom I am likely to have to deal with

The evidence gathered could but hasn't been passed or offered to Actionfraud. I love the fact that GDPR is being used to protect criminals. When I first heard that I laughed out loud

I feel the important thing here is the fact I can open bank accounts willy nilly

Carry a card around with you seems like you're firmly in tin-foil hat territory...

You're forgetting here that you are not the victim of a crime, identify theft isn't itself a crime, what is a crime is fraud but you are not the victim of that, the banks are, so it's up to them to report it if they wish to.  It turns out that generally they do not, but that is their prerogative.  The GDPR isn't being used to protect criminals, the evidence is there for law enforcement if they need access to it.  It does, however, stop data from getting into the hands of people who frankly have no justification in obtaining it (you in this case.)

I suspect you were more than happy to not have to trundle off to a bank branch or get copies of your ID certified every time you wanted to open a financial account before this happened and probably would have been the first to make a "current year" argument about having to go into a branch every time you needed to do open an account. Making it far easier for legitimate customers to open accounts does give an avenue to fraudsters but it's not quite the open season you seem to think it is.

woodenwheel

Notnewnotold said:

If it really is that easy for you to do, and you want it to get National attention, then here's a suggestion:

1) Open accounts for several high profile people (Boris, the Queen, Martin Lewis, that sort of thing). Make sure you are using a VPN
2) Write to them all anonymously explaining how easy it was to do, and that you're not a criminal but an 'ethical hacker'
3) Copy notes to all the major papers and BBC

Given apparently no-one is investigating this, it will very likely achieve your aims with no comeback to you. Jobs a good-un.

I doubt I'd get away with the Queen or Boris (I assume they're on a special list) but anyone else, yes. I would guess Martin Lewis has CIFAS registration

I have considered doing what you say but, as I am suspected of fraud already because they insinuate it was me all along, I wouldn't dare. I gained the ability to access one of these fake accounts but didn't for the same reason.

I would happily team up with an 'ethical hacker' to prove what I am saying. What I'll probably do is reveal how it's done elsewhere and you can have a go yourself

woodenwheel

2021BJ said:

woodenwheel said:

2021BJ said:

They're not going to hand evidence over to you.  It would be wholly inappropriate as well as potentially a breach of the GDPR (if it is identity theft as you claim these are not your accounts)

Report to Action Fraud, send the crime reference to the creditors and let them deal with it.

I have reported it to Actionfraud and now carry a card with me so I can quote the 'crime number' to any Bailiff, Policeman whom I am likely to have to deal with

The evidence gathered could but hasn't been passed or offered to Actionfraud. I love the fact that GDPR is being used to protect criminals. When I first heard that I laughed out loud

I feel the important thing here is the fact I can open bank accounts willy nilly

Carry a card around with you seems like you're firmly in tin-foil hat territory...

You're forgetting here that you are not the victim of a crime, identify theft isn't itself a crime, what is a crime is fraud but you are not the victim of that, the banks are, so it's up to them to report it if they wish to.  It turns out that generally they do not, but that is their prerogative.  The GDPR isn't being used to protect criminals, the evidence is there for law enforcement if they need access to it.  It does, however, stop data from getting into the hands of people who frankly have no justification in obtaining it (you in this case.)

I suspect you were more than happy to not have to trundle off to a bank branch or get copies of your ID certified every time you wanted to open a financial account before this happened and probably would have been the first to make a "current year" argument about having to go into a branch every time you needed to do open an account. Making it far easier for legitimate customers to open accounts does give an avenue to fraudsters but it's not quite the open season you seem to think it is.

I don't see what's wrong with being able to produce a crime number on demand (via having it written on a piece of card) - I'm not in a tin-foil hat either. Have you seen the cost of tin foil these days?

The fact it is so easy to open an account on-line is the root of all this. Of course I would be annoyed with inconvienience of any sort. However, when it comes to opening an account, getting a passport, something of that nature I would have to accept it. The last time I opened an account it was exactly what I had to do.