Mum's receiving somebody else's mail - possible identity fraud

chrisotherwise

My elderly mother has started receiving letters addressed to somebody else - "Mr Smith". She has never heard of Mr Smith and has lived in her house for over 25 years - nothing has ever come for him prior to six months ago.

There have been three letters from Barclaycard complaining about missed payments on his (substantial) debt with them.

Also a letter from Scottish Widows welcoming him to his new address.

I have called both Barclaycard and Scottish Widows but they won't talk to me as I'm not Mr Smith.

Mum is very confused (possible early dementia), and if somebody came to her house and asked her to sign something random she'd probably do it - and forget she'd done so straight after.

Any thoughts about what I could/should do about this? It looks like Mum's address has been targeted by somebody but I've no idea why, and  the organisations I've called are no help at all.

As an aside, mum has no idea that the letters weren't to her. She just opens everything that arrives and was very worried that Barclaycard were telling her that money was owed.

user1977

Do you have power of attorney for her? Might be an idea while she's still able to grant it (assuming she is).

Even if this is fraud (rather than someone consistently entering the wrong postcode for their address) I doubt she has been "targeted", they've probably just chosen an address at random.

Is anybody calling at her house asking her to sign things? I don't see that would be related to the mail you're talking about.

I would recommend she/you writes to Barclaycard/Scottish Widows explaining what's going on. But I also wouldn't worry about it

Floyd_Pink

Return to sender and pop them back in the post with not known at this address.

Sarahspangles

chrisotherwise said:

My elderly mother has started receiving letters addressed to somebody else - "Mr Smith". She has never heard of Mr Smith and has lived in her house for over 25 years - nothing has ever come for him prior to six months ago.

There have been three letters from Barclaycard complaining about missed payments on his (substantial) debt with them.

Also a letter from Scottish Widows welcoming him to his new address.

I have called both Barclaycard and Scottish Widows but they won't talk to me as I'm not Mr Smith.

Mum is very confused (possible early dementia), and if somebody came to her house and asked her to sign something random she'd probably do it - and forget she'd done so straight after.

Any thoughts about what I could/should do about this? It looks like Mum's address has been targeted by somebody but I've no idea why, and  the organisations I've called are no help at all.

As an aside, mum has no idea that the letters weren't to her. She just opens everything that arrives and was very worried that Barclaycard were telling her that money was owed.

Could you help her check her credit report to see if someone else’s name is recorded against the address?

fatbelly

I agree with the above.

But it is worth checking your mum's credit file to confirm there is nothing on there.


FWIW I've also had a welcome to your new address letter from Scottish Widows. It was Lloyds mistake

SiliconChip

If your mum owns the house where she lives I'd recommend setting up a property alert on it so that she (or you) is notified if anyone tries to sell it or obtain a mortgage fraudulently.

https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/

Muskey

It may be innocent…..has she a new nearby neighbour?
I had this happen some time ago, when a neighbour moved in 2 doors away and gave everyone (friends & businesses) my address, believing they had bought number 3 (example), when they’d actually bought number 5.
I returned all mail NKTA and popped a note in their door telling them what I had done……only 1 of their friends knocked at my door visiting their friends new 4 bed detached house…..mine is very different; not 4 beds, not a house!

MCT56

If it was me I'd send them a letter by recorded deliver explaining your concerns and spelling out that no-one of that name has ever stayed at your relatives house. Ask them not to send anymore correspondence as it's very concerning. The last thing you want is debt collectors turning up unannounced, if you can prevent it. Keep a copy of any correspondence. 

user1977

MCT56 said:

Ask them not to send anymore correspondence as it's very concerning. 

But bear in mind that they're not necessarily going to do that immediately - as far as they're concerned, the OP is just a random third party asking them to change the details they have for one of their customers. You can't demand that somebody stops sending mail to your address.

Okell

Floyd_Pink said:

Return to sender and pop them back in the post with not known at this address.

Well that's no help is it?

The OP has done the right thing by opening the mail and trying to get it sorted out.

The last thing her elderly mother needs is the possibility of bailiffs etc turning up trying to enforce a debt against "Mr Smith" because they've ignored obvious warning signs.

(It's a widely held misconception that you can't open mail that has been correctly delivered to your address but is addressed to someone you don't know.  It isn't an offence unless you intend to cause the addressee some sort of detriment.  In these days of identity fraud I'd advise anyone to open any mail correctly delivered to their address but in the name of someone unknown to them.  Why take a chance?)

BoGoF

How on earth can it be ID fraud if the named person is not the mother. ID fraud is using another persons details to obtain credit etc.

If the mail is addressed to someone else the correct advise is to return to sender as 'not known at this address'.