GLOSSARY
Criminals commit identity theft by stealing your personal information. This is often done by taking documents from your rubbish or by making contact with you and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation.
Identity theft can result in fraud affecting your personal financial circumstances, as well as costing the government and financial services millions of pounds a year. If your identity is stolen, you may have difficulty when applying for loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is sorted out.
The following tips will help you protect your identity and prevent criminals from committing fraud in your name.
- Always keep important personal documents, plastic cards and chequebooks in a safe and secure place.
- Don’t share personal information unless you are confident you know who you are dealing with.
- When disposing of your store statements, receipts and documents that
contain information relating to your financial affairs do this safely preferably
by shredding them. - Thoroughly check bank and card statements as soon as they arrive. If you find an unfamiliar transaction contact your card company or bank immediately.
- Be aware that your post is valuable information in the wrong hands. If you fail to receive a bank statement, card statement, utility bill or any other financial information contact the supplier as soon as possible.
- Get your post immediately redirected to your new address if you move house.
