Identity breach

EmsyB12

Can’t believe I’m having to ask this….but my Dad had his suitcase taken off the carousel at Heathrow yesterday by someone else either accidentally or purposely. He (& I can’t believe this part) has a document in his case with all his account numbers, passwords, PIN numbers, pension details, copy of passport, secret words, you name it apparently it’s all there. He’s ringing his banks but he’s worried that with all that info someone could easily pretend to be him and get accounts up and going again. Does anyone have any experience of this or what he could maybe do? He’s 74 and I’m worried about his health dealing with the stress. It could be an innocent mistake and person hasn’t realised they have wrong case and like most people would do nothing if they saw all this info but you can imagine that my Dad has worst case scenario head on and needs to be prepared. Thank you if anyone has any helpful advice.

dealyboy

Hi Emsy ...

That's dreadful ... may I just ask one (stupid) question. How do you know it was taken by someone else rather than just missing?

Band7

Terrible.

Apart from what he is doing already, perhaps he should immediately pay for a CIFAS Protective Registration. 

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

Band7

I don't know how many current accounts he has but perhaps he should immediately open a new current account and move his money over, leaving enough behind to cover any imminent DDs. SOs he can move himself. Also making sure the bank will not allow the old account to go overdrawn. Some banks also allow an extra password/passphrase to be set, to put an extra hurdle in the way of fraudsters.

He could then also request a switch of his old current account, to move DDs and SOs. He could perhaps make use of switch offers - though the accounts with instant opening (Starling, Monzo, Chase, Kroo) aren't participating in bonus switching.

Similar with savings accounts.

Oh, and get him a password manager. I recommend Lastpass. He can record everything you mentioned in Lastpass, and he can set it up so that someone else (you?) gets access in an emergency. 

When the panic is over, perhaps also sort out Power Of Attorney if he hasn't done this already. It's never too early to do this

EmsyB12

Thanks - it has been confirmed that his case was scanned on the carousel so he knows it was definitely at the right place. The info you’ve both supplied I will forward to him, thank you so much for your helpful advice. 

Not sure how to reply individually but hope you both see this!

pecunianonolet

As terrible as the situation is, maybe the key learning is to put sensitive information never in a suitcase and always carry it with you and take it as hand luggage on board. Maybe request CCTV footage from Heathrow and involve the police so maybe the person who either accidentally or purposely took it can be traced. 

I once had a newly bought leather jacket (tags were still on) stolen out of my suitcase when I had a short stopover at Frankfurt airport. Luckily had the receipt and Lufthansa reimbursed the full price within 3 days. Still can't believe it happened. 

EmsyB12

Thanks, he did ask about CCTV but was told they don’t have any on carousels which none of us believe (in an airport?!). He has contacted MET police but again they said no crime at present so again unhelpful although to be fair when he contacted them he hadn’t realised all this info was in there so I’ve advised he contact them again as potential fraud risk. I am honestly aghast that he had all this info in his suitcase and that he thought he might need all of it whilst in Africa! 

EmsyB12

pecunianonolet said:

As terrible as the situation is, maybe the key learning is to put sensitive information never in a suitcase and always carry it with you and take it as hand luggage on board. Maybe request CCTV footage from Heathrow and involve the police so maybe the person who either accidentally or purposely took it can be traced. 

I once had a newly bought leather jacket (tags were still on) stolen out of my suitcase when I had a short stopover at Frankfurt airport. Luckily had the receipt and Lufthansa reimbursed the full price within 3 days. Still can't believe it happened. 

Thanks, he did ask about CCTV but was told they don’t have any on carousels which none of us believe (in an airport?!). He has contacted MET police but again they said no crime at present so again unhelpful although to be fair when he contacted them he hadn’t realised all this info was in there so I’ve advised he contact them again as potential fraud risk. I am honestly aghast that he had all this info in his suitcase and that he thought he might need all of it whilst in Africa! 

Sorry to hear it happened to you.

lr1277

pecunianonolet said:

As terrible as the situation is, maybe the key learning is to put sensitive information never in a suitcase and always carry it with you and take it as hand luggage on board. Maybe request CCTV footage from Heathrow and involve the police so maybe the person who either accidentally or purposely took it can be traced. 

I once had a newly bought leather jacket (tags were still on) stolen out of my suitcase when I had a short stopover at Frankfurt airport. Luckily had the receipt and Lufthansa reimbursed the full price within 3 days. Still can't believe it happened. 

Theft of luggage whether it is hand luggage or suitcases that go in the hold will always be a problem.

I am sure I have seen advice about keeping a copy of your passport not on your person (unlike your actual passport) in case your actual passport is stolen. Then if you need to get a replacement whilst away, you will hopefully have all the details.

If there is no one at 'home' to keep a copy, what are people supposed to do. Keep a copy in their suitcas I think was the suggestion.

Costabit

I worked in lost and found baggage for over 20 years and can say that almost everyday I had to deal with a bag swap as you are describing.
It usually involved a passenger mistakenly taking the wrong bag and leaving their identical bag on the carousel. They then realise the mistake when they can’t open the combination at home and usually frantically return the wrong bag as they want their own one back.
It is extremely rare that somebody would chance stealing a bag and going through customs with it so hopefully you get the bag back pretty soon.

I know this doesn’t help much at the moment in regard to sorting out all the banking password issues etc, but hopefully the missing bag will be returned soon.

born_again

I would also register @ CIFAS for Protective Registration, given all the data stolen.