Preventing Identity Theft

What is it?

Identity fraud (or identity theft) happens when someone uses your personal details without your knowledge or consent. They might use the information to get a credit card or loan, to go shopping with your money, or to create false documents like passports and birth certificates.

How to help prevent it

If you move house, tell your bank, card issuer and all the other organisations you deal with. And redirect mail from your old address for at least a year.
Get regular updates of your personal credit file to see which financial organisations have accessed your details. It's a good idea to check your personal credit file 2-3 months after you've moved house.
You can get copies of your credit file from a credit reference agency:
Experian – www.experian.co.uk
Call Credit – www.callcredit.co.uk
Equifax – www.equifax.co.uk
Use a shredder to destroy documents like bank statements, utility bills, pre-filled application forms and debit/credit card receipts – anything that shows your name, address or other personal details.
Check your bank and credit card statements as soon as you receive them – and report any transactions you don't recognise.
Keep a note of when your bills and statements should arrive in the post. If you don't receive a statement, tell the organisation straight away.

How to spot it

You receive bills, invoices or receipts for things you've not ordered. Or you get letters from solicitors or debt collection agencies about debts that aren't yours.
You receive confirmation letters or statements for accounts you haven't opened.
There are transactions (normally debits) on your statements that you don't recognise.
Important documents go missing – such as your passport, driving licence, utility bills or bank statements.
New accounts appear on your credit file that you don't recognise.
Searches appear on your credit file that don't relate to an application made by you or anyone else living at your address.
When you apply for benefits, you're told you're already claiming.
You have a good credit history, but you're turned down because of a default on your record.

If you're a victim of identity fraud

Act promptly. If you have an M&S Card, call 0845 900 0900 (calls may be recorded). And notify any other credit providers straight away.
Report the crime to the police and request a crime number.
Keep a record of everything – recovering from identity fraud can be a long and complicated process.
Send letters by recorded or special delivery – and keep track of how much time you spend dealing with the problem.
If you're a victim of identity fraud, or if you've had important documents stolen, you can apply for extra protection through CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service. Their Protective Registration Service places a warning on your credit file so that extra identity checks are made if anyone applies for credit under your name.