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Action Fraud

Identity fraud and identity theft

 

Identity theft happens when fraudsters access enough information about someone’s identity (such as their name, date of birth, current or previous addresses) to commit identity fraud. Identity theft can take place whether the fraud victim is alive or deceased.

If you’re a victim of identity theft, it can lead to fraud that can have a direct impact on your personal finances and could also make it difficult for you to obtain loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is resolved.

Identity fraud

Identity fraud can be described as the use of that stolen identity in criminal activity to obtain goods or services by deception.

Fraudsters can use your identity details to:

  • Open bank accounts.
  • Obtain credit cards, loans and state benefits.
  • Order goods in your name.
  • Take over your existing accounts.
  • Take out mobile phone contracts.
  • Obtain genuine documents such as passports and driving licences in your name.
  • Stealing an individual’s identity details does not, on its own, constitute identity fraud. But using that identity for any of the above activities does.

The first you know of it may be when you receive bills or invoices for things you haven’t ordered, or when you receive letters from debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours.

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.

Protect yourself against identity fraud

Don’t throw out anything with your name, address or financial details without shredding it first.

  • If you receive an unsolicited email or phone call from what appears to be your bank or building society asking for your security details, never reveal your full password, login details or account numbers. Be aware that a bank will never ask for your PIN or for a whole security number or password.
  • If you are concerned about the source of a call, wait five minutes and call your bank from a different telephone making sure there is a dialling tone.
  • Check your statements carefully and report anything suspicious to the bank or financial service provider concerned.
  • Don’t leave things like bills lying around for others to look at.
  • If you’re expecting a bank or credit card statement and it doesn’t arrive, tell your bank or credit card company.
  • If you move house, ask Royal Mail to redirect your post for at least a year.
  • It is particularly helpful to check your personal credit file 2-3 months after you have moved house.

What should you do if you’ve been a victim of identity fraud?

  • Act quickly – you mustn’t ignore the problem.
  • If you believe you’re a victim of identity fraud involving plastic cards (e.g. credit and debit cards), online banking or cheques, you must report it to your bank as soon as possible.
  • It is recommended that regular checks are undertaken with credit reference agencies, such as Equifax or Experian, to establish if a credit line such as a mobile phone contract or a loan agreement(s) has been taken out in your name. If so please report the matter to the relevant organisation identified within your credit report.
  • The organisation in question may refund you, and if so, as in line with Home Office Counting Rules, they will be classified as the victim. Therefore reports made to Action Fraud will be recorded as an Information Report that captures the information about what has occurred and this is passed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which is run by the City of London Police. Updates are not provided for Information Reports, however the intelligence is utilised and could potentially be used within criminal proceedings at some point in the future.
  • You should report all lost or stolen documents – such as passports, driving licences, plastic cards, cheque books – to the relevant organisation.
  • If you’re not sure which organisation to call, contact Action Fraud for advice.
  • Contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry line on 08457 740 740 if you suspect your mail is being stolen or that a mail redirection has been fraudulently set up on your address. The Royal Mail has an investigation unit that will be able to help you.
  • Get a copy of your credit report. A credit report will show you any searches done by a lender, what date the search took place, what name and address it was done against and also for what type of application. It will also show what credit accounts are set up in your name. You can contact any one of these credit reference agencies and receive support in resolving credit report problems caused by identity fraud. Credit reference agencies:
  • Look at your credit report closely. If you find entries from organisations you don’t normally deal with, contact them immediately. Remember to keep a record of all your actions, including the people you’ve spoken to and when, and keep copies of all letters you send and receive.
  • The credit reference agencies will contact lenders on your behalf where fraudulent applications have been made or fraudulent credit accounts opened in order to restore your credit history to its former state.
Protecting the identity of deceased family members

Criminals sometimes use the identities of deceased persons to commit fraud, which can be very distressing for those close to the deceased.

The Deceased Preference Service offers deceased person mail preference services and provides further information on this issue.

  • For more information on how to protect yourself from fraud and cyber crime visit actionfraud.police.uk, or calling 0300 123 2040. 

By clicking on one of these links you are departing from the regulatory site of Comet Wealth. Comet Wealth is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within the linked site.

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As identity fraud hits record levels survey reveals that people are still not protecting themselves

Action Fraud has launched an identity fraud campaign with the City of London Police, Cifas and Equifax, asking members of the public to consider how careful they are with their personal and financial details. A recent YouGov Survey commissioned by Equifax found that the UK population are failing to take basic steps like protecting passwords or installing anti-virus software to protect their identities from criminals. 

Identity fraud has been growing steadily over the past 10 years according to the 2016 Annual Fraud Indicator and it is estimated that the cost of identity fraud to the UK is £5.4billion. Figures recorded by Cifas show that identity fraud now represents over half of all fraud members, with 9 out of 10 perpetrated online. In 2016, 172,919 people reported identity fraud to Cifas.

The recent survey commissioned by Equifax has helped to reveal some of the public’s attitudes towards protecting their identity.

How to protect yourself from identity fraud:

  • Set your privacy settings across all the social media channels you use. And just think twice before you share details – in particular your full date of birth, your address, contacts details – all this information can be useful to fraudsters!
  • Password protect your devices. Keep your passwords complex by picking three random words, such as roverducklemon and add or split them with symbols, numbers and capitals: R0v3rDuckLemon!
  • Install anti-virus software on your laptop and any other personal devices and then keep it up to date. MoneySavingExpert have a recommended list of the best free anti-virus software: www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/free-anti-virus-software
  • Take care on public wi-fi – fraudsters hack them or mimic them. If you’re using one, avoid accessing sensitive apps such as mobile banking.
  • Download updates to your software when your device prompts you – they often add enhanced security features.

What to do if you’re a victim:

  • ACT FAST if you think you have been a victim of identity fraud.
  • If you receive any mail that seems suspicious or implies you have an account with the sender when you don’t, do not ignore it.
  • Get a copy of your credit report as it is one of the first places you can spot if someone is misusing your personal information – before you suffer financial loss. Review every entry on your credit report and if you see an account or even a credit search from a company that you do not recognise, notify the credit reference agency. They all offer a free service to victims of fraud.
  • Individuals or businesses who have fallen victim to identity fraud should report to www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud
  • If you have information about those committing identity crime please tell independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously online or call on 0800 555 111.
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Alert: Fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC

  • There are a variety of methods being used including calls, texts and voicemails.
  • Fraudsters are contacting the elderly and vulnerable claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs.
  • Victims are being told they have arrest warrants, outstanding debts or unpaid taxes in their name. 
  • The fraudsters are asking victims to purchase iTunes gift cards as payment. 

Action Fraud is warning people once again of scammers contacting victims claiming to be from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) that trick people into paying bogus debts and taxes using iTunes gift cards.

Victims are being contacted in a variety of methods by fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC and are being told they owe an outstanding debt. In most cases they ask for payment in iTunes gift card voucher codes.

Fraudsters like iTunes gift cards to collect money from victims because they can be easily redeemed and easily sold on. The scammers don’t need the physical card to redeem the value and instead get victims to read out the serial code on the back over the phone.

Methods fraudsters use:

Spoofed calls: Fraudsters cold call victims using a spoofed number and convince them that they owe unpaid tax to HMRC.

Voicemails: Fraudsters leave victims automated voicemails saying that they owe HMRC unpaid taxes. When victims call back on the number provided, they are told that there is a warrant out in their name and if they don’t pay, the police will arrest them

Text messages: They may also use text messages that ask victims to urgently call back on the number provided. When victims call back, they are told that there is a case being built against them for an outstanding debt and they must pay immediately.

One 87 year old victim recently told the BBC he was phoned by fraudsters who claimed to be from HMRC stating there was an arrest warrant out in his name. They told him it would be cancelled if he bought £500 in iTunes gift cards at Tesco.

The man bought the cards and gave them the serial numbers. But when they asked for a further £1,300 in vouchers, he became suspicious and hung up.

How to protect yourself: 

  • HMRC will never use texts to tell you about a tax rebate or penalty or ever ask for payment in this way.
  • Telephone numbers and text messages can easily be spoofed. You should never trust the number you see on your telephones display.
  • If you receive a suspicious cold call, end it immediately.

If you have been affected by this, or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling
0300 123 2040, or by using the online reporting tool at www.actionfraud.police.uk

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