Personal information toolkit

Identity theft and fraud

Your identity is one of your most valuable assets. However, criminals can use a number of methods to find out your personal information and will then use it to open bank accounts, take out credit cards and apply for state benefits in your name. If your identity is stolen, you can lose money and may find it difficult to get loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is sorted out.

You can find tips on protecting your personal information on page 6 of this leaflet.

Know the signs

There are a number of signs to look out for that may mean you are or may become a victim of identity theft. These include:

You have lost or had important documents stolen, such as your passport or driving licence.
Post from your bank or utility provider doesn’t arrive.
Items that you don’t recognise appear on your bank or credit-card statement.
You apply for state benefits, but are told you are already claiming.
You receive bills or receipts for goods or services you haven’t asked for.
You are refused financial services, credit cards or a loan, despite having a good credit rating.
You receive letters in your name from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours.

Act quickly

If you think you are a victim of identity theft or fraud, act quickly to ensure you are not liable for any financial losses.

Report all lost or stolen documents, such as passports, driving licences, credit cards and chequebooks to the organisation that issued them.
Inform your bank, building society and credit-card company of any unusual transactions on your statement.
Request a copy of your credit file to check for any suspicious credit applications.
Report the theft of personal documents and suspicious credit applications to the police, and ask for a crime reference number.
Contact CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service to apply for protective registration. Once you have registered you should be aware that CIFAS members will carry out extra checks to see when anyone, including you, applies for a financial service, such as a loan, using your address.

Who do I contact for more advice on identity theft and fraud?

You can get advice on what to do if you become a victim of identity theft or fraud from:

CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service
PO Box 1141
Bradford
BD1 5UR

Telephone: 0870 010 2091
www.cifas.org.uk

You can also get more advice at:

Fraud Reduction
www.uk-fraud.info

Home Office
www.identitytheft.org.uk

Bank Safe Online
www.banksafeonline.org.uk

Financial Services Authority
Telephone: 0845 606 1234
www.fsa.gov.uk

CardWatch c/o APACS
Mecury House,
Triton Court,
14 Finsbury Square,
London EC2A 1LQ
www.cardwatch.org.uk

To report the theft or loss of post and other important documents:

Identity and Passport Service
Telephone: 0870 521 0410
www.passport.gov.uk

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Telephone: 0870 240 0009
www.dvla.gov.uk

Royal Mail
Telephone: 08457 740 740