WHAT IS IDENTITY THEFT ?
1.7 BILLION POUNDS IS TAKEN FROM PEOPLE'S ACCOUNTS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER EACH YEAR
WHO’S GOT YOUR IDENTITY
IN 2006 170,000 BRITISH PEOPLE REPORTED HAVING THEIR IDENTITIES STOLEN
CASE
FRAUDSTERS STOLE SUPERMARKET CREDIT CARD DETAILS
THEY USED IT TO ACCESS CHILD PORN
I WAS ARRESTED, MY HOUSE WAS RAIDED
FAMILY DISOWNED ME
I LOST £120K JOB
IN THIS CASE ALL THAT WAS NEEDED WAS A CREDIT CARD NUMBER AND A NAME - NOT EVEN A SECURITY CODE
WAYS TO BEAT THIEVES
SHRED ANYTHING THAT HOLDS INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELFEVEN SHRED ENVELOPES BECAUSE, IF ONE AS PROOF OF ADDRESS TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT. ANYTHING THAT CONTAINS YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND DATE OF BIRTH, MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME OR SIMILAR SHOULD BE SHREDDED.
NEVER DUMP A COMPUTER WITHOUT WIPING THE HARD DRIVE WITH SPECIAL SOFTWARE IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO DELETE BY FILES
KEEP PASSPORTS AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN A SAFE THAT IS SCREWED TO THE GROUND.
BE WARY OF CASH MACHINES WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TAMPERED WITH.IF THE A.T.M DOES NOT LOOK RIGHT DO NOT USE IT.
ALWAYS USE SECURE WEBSITES WHENEVER ENTERING YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS
LOOK FOR
LOOK OUT FOR CAMERAS ON THE CELLINGS OF PETROL STATIONS AND SMALL SUPERMARKETS. FRAUDSTERS HAVE STARED FILMING THE CHIP AND PIN MACHINE SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT YOUR FOURDIGIT NUMBER IS. AND CLONE YOUR CARD.
IF YOU THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG REPORT IT.
IT CAN AFFECT YOUR CREDIT RATING.
LOOK OUT FOR BOGUS EMAILS IF YOU DON’T WHERE IT’S FROM DELETE IT COULD BE FROM A FRAUDSTER.
DON’T LET YOUR MONEY END UP INTO SOMEBODY ELSE’S POCKET
YOUR IDENTITY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION ARE VALUABLE.
CRIMINALS CAN FIND OUT YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS AND USE THEM TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS AND GET CREDIT CARDS , LOANS , STATE BENEFITS AND DOCUMENTS SUCH AS PASSPORTS
IF YOUR IDENTITY IS STOLEN YOU MAY HAVE DIFFICLTY GETTING LOANS,CREDIT CARDS OR A MORTGAGE UNTIL THE MATTER IS SORTED OUT.
CRIMINALS WILL TAKE BLACK BAGS TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN FIND
HOW TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF THEFT?
BUY YOURSELF A SHREDDER AND SHRED ANY DOCUMENT WHICH CARRIES PERSONAL DETAILS.
GAS /ELECTRICITY/PHONE/WATER BILLS/CREDIT CARDS. DESTROY ALL UNWANTED DOCUMRNTS
AND CREDIT CARDS
ONCE DESTROYED THE THIEF HAS NO EASY PICKINGS
WHEN USING YOUR CARDS FOR PAYING FOR SHOPPING AND ALSO CASHPOINT MACHINES BE AWARE THAT NOBODY IS WATCHING YOU ENTERING YOUR PIN NUMBER, ALWAYS SHIELD THE KEY PAD. IF SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AT THE CASHPOINT REPORT IT TO YOUR BANK OR POLICE STRAIGHT AWAY
GET YOUR CREDIT REPORT FROM
www.equifax.co.uk www.callcredit.co.uk