ID Theft, Current Account opened & Loans applied for

0611045

Someone managed to open a Current Account and get quotes for loans in my name. Something like 20 applications for loans. I found out because the bank e-mailed me saying the e-mail used wasn't the one they had on file (I am a former customer) and then prompted me to check credit agency files. I imagine that the loan quotations all came from a comparison website.

Already contacted the bank and they shut the account down.

Some questions for y'all:

• All the loan-related searches were "Quotation - Unsecured Personal Loan" or "Credit Quotation", depending on credit file provider. Would there be an additional search on my credit file if the person went through with an application/it was accepted? Looking to gauge the risk that someone actually got a loan and whether I need to contact all loan companies separately.
• Anyone have experience with Protective Registration with CIFAS? All applications were made on the same day, so it seems that someone might have tried once and didn't get very far. Maybe they won't try again. Any suggestion on whether it is worth it (£25 cost is not a problem)?

[Deleted User]

CIFAS is worth having, even for the additional burden. I'd be very careful with the paperwork, unfortunately this sort of fraud is very commonly done by someone close to home, there are plenty of stories on here of parents and partners doing it behind your back

MattMattMattUK

0611045 said:

Someone managed to open a Current Account and get quotes for loans in my name. Something like 20 applications for loans. I found out because the bank e-mailed me saying the e-mail used wasn't the one they had on file (I am a former customer) and then prompted me to check credit agency files. I imagine that the loan quotations all came from a comparison website.

Already contacted the bank and they shut the account down.

Some questions for y'all:

• All the loan-related searches were "Quotation - Unsecured Personal Loan" or "Credit Quotation", depending on credit file provider. Would there be an additional search on my credit file if the person went through with an application/it was accepted? Looking to gauge the risk that someone actually got a loan and whether I need to contact all loan companies separately.

Contact Action Fraud to get a reference number (they are useless apart from that), report it to every company who has a search on your credit files, they searches will get removed and they should be more cautious relating to you in the future.

0611045 said:

• Anyone have experience with Protective Registration with CIFAS? All applications were made on the same day, so it seems that someone might have tried once and didn't get very far. Maybe they won't try again. Any suggestion on whether it is worth it (£25 cost is not a problem)?

It is probably worth it for piece of mind, it did not cause me any inconvenience when I have it, although the only credit I applied for in that period was renewing mobile phone contracts and a mortgage, it can slow down applications you make for loans, credit cards, new contracts etc. but only by a day at most. The bank that opened the current account may well pay for this to be done, they did in my case, although that was a few years ago.

0611045

Thanks all. One of the organisations have offered to add a Victim of Impersonation to my credit score, but I'll probably add the Protective Registration as well. I didn't report with Action Fraud as they don't seem to be interested in recording situations where there was no financial loss (there isn't in my case, although the bank didn't reveal if the overdraft had been withdrawn from the current account that had been opened - that'll be their responsibility).

propertyhunter

This exact thing happened to me, but it was about 7 credit card applications. Bank of Scotland called me since the telephone number given was different from the one they had on file for me.

Add CIFAS protective registration. Then find each credit report from the three reference agencies, find every hard search and then call them up to report the fraudulent application. They will cancel the application and remove the hard search. 

I don't know how much of an imposition CIFAS is, as I didn't apply for anything during the 2 years it was on my file. I did add notice of corrections to each credit file asking for a password to be put on the file to authorise future credit applications. 

James

Bad news! The link below may be of interest to you. Scroll down to the bottom of the article  CIFAS v MyPas and judge for yourself.  Which best protects you.

MyPAS - The AntiSocial Engineer Limited

If I can be of any help please PM me