Identity theft advice

jensnape

Hi,

Am new to the forum, so please excuse me if I am int he wrong place! I am looking for some advice....

I used to live in a block of bedsits and since I moved out someone has tried to get credit cards in my name and has also ordered goods from 2 catalogues. I have found out about these as I have a mail-forwarding set up with Royal Mail.

Is there anything I can join to ensure people can't do this? I'm sure one of my ex-colleagues said they were on some sort of register which meant extra checks when she wanted something but reduced likelihood of fraud... any idea?

Thanks guys

Jen x :A

Benuk73

jensnape wrote:

Hi,

Am new to the forum, so please excuse me if I am int he wrong place! I am looking for some advice....

I used to live in a block of bedsits and since I moved out someone has tried to get credit cards in my name and has also ordered goods from 2 catalogues. I have found out about these as I have a mail-forwarding set up with Royal Mail.

Is there anything I can join to ensure people can't do this? I'm sure one of my ex-colleagues said they were on some sort of register which meant extra checks when she wanted something but reduced likelihood of fraud... any idea?

Thanks guys

Jen x :A

Hello and Welcome to MSE! Cant think of anything to be honest, only informing all the credit reference agencies the position. Then if anything is applied for in your name, extra checks would be made? I don't know, but hope you can get it sorted.

margaretclare

Also invest in a shredder - we got one for about £12 from Staples. Shred everything that has your name and address on it. Shred bank statements. Be especially careful about those little slips of paper you get with an ATM transaction, receipts from shops, supermarkets etc and above all, anything at all that has your credit/debit card number on it! Do not leave anything like that lying around. Don't throw into the bin where it can be retrieved by identity thieves - shred the lot!

People are incredibly cavalier with pieces of paper that can identify them - amazing really.

Aunty Margaret

Browntoa

http://www.cifas.org.uk/protective_registration.asp

If you have been the victim of a mugging or burglary and personal identification documents have been stolen, there is a risk they could be used by the thief to obtain credit or other products and services fraudulently in your name. For an administration fee of £11.75 (£10 plus £1.75 VAT) CIFAS offers a service, provided on their behalf by Equifax, to protect your name and address from being misused in this way.

You may contact Equifax, and request 'Protective Registration'. A CIFAS warning will then be placed against your address marked Category '0' which indicates the individual has been recorded on the CIFAS database at their own request for their protection. CIFAS members when undertaking a search against your address will see "CIFAS-DO NOT REJECT-REFER FOR VALIDATION", whatever name they search for. They will then contact Equifax to establish the reason for the entry.

As a result of the entry CIFAS members will verify further the identity of applicants, and in some cases request further proof of identification, and this may mean you personally experience delays while your credentials are fully checked out.

If you believe the identity of a deceased person may be used by a fraudster to obtain credit or other products and services, a CIFAS Protective Registration may be placed by a relative or executor against the deceased person’s address.

To apply for the CIFAS Protective registration service you will need to contact Equifax. You must supply the following details:

• Your full name
• Your date of birth
• Your full address with postcode
• The names of anyone else living at your address, and their date of birth
• Your home and work telephone numbers including the dialling codes
• A crime reference number if applicable
• Details about why you want a Protective Registration
• If applying to protect the identity of a deceased person, a copy of the death certificate will be required.

Once this information is received, the entry will be placed on the database and you will receive confirmation by post. You will also be sent some forms to complete after the registration has been made. You will then be required to send a cheque or supply credit card details for the administration fee. The data will remain on the database for at least a year from the date of the most recent fraudulent activity, but you can request the removal or extension of the Protective Registration by writing to Equifax.

Although Equifax provides this service on behalf of CIFAS, Protective Registrations are automatically passed to the other participating fraud prevention agencies within CIFAS. Click here to see who they are

To make a registration click here to download the form, complete and return to the following address:

CIFAS
PO Box 1141
Bradford
BD1 5UR

Alternatively you can phone Equifax on 0870 010 2091 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) or send an email to: [email="protective.registrationuk@equifax.com"]protective.registrationuk@equifax.com[/email]

James

Take control of your own ID.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=85268


James

jensnape

Hi,

Thanks for advice, especially about CIFAS - I have now joined the register and am feeling a lot happier about it.

I already have a shredder, but it is good advice, thank you.


Jen x :A