Avoiding Identity Fraud

One of the main reasons Home Secretary David Blunkett has given for proposing a national ID card is that it will combat identity fraud – a crime that is increasingly problematic in our hi-tech society. The Home Office (www.homeoffice.gov.uk) estimates that it costs the UK more than £1.3 billion a year, as both individuals and companies are fooled into handing over money, goods and documents. It can sometimes take people many months to realise that they have fallen victim.

Police forces are finding it difficult to lead a fight-back against the unlawful use of other people’s identities, especially because they are closing their fraud divisions to concentrate on street crime. The introduction of ID cards containing biometric information such as iris scans or fingerprints is scheduled for 2007. But some scientists and security experts say the cards will not prevent identity fraud.

So, it looks like it’s up to you to protect your identity from thieves. Here are some simple measures to prevent your personal details being appropriated.

• Destroy all personal and household documents (credit card and bank statements, utility bills, receipts, etc) before putting them in the bin. A hand-operated shredder costs less than £10.
  
  
• Treat your credit cards like cash. Safeguard them in the same way and sign new ones the moment you receive them. Report a lost or stolen card immediately. Be wary of letting your card out of your sight when making a transaction, particularly in bars and restaurants and especially when abroad.
  
  
• Review bank and credit card statements to ensure all entries are correct. If a statement is late, phone the issuer to make sure it hasn’t been diverted to a different address.
  
  
• Check you are dealing with a reputable company before giving your card number, bank details or other personal information over the phone. When shopping online, ensure a site is secure. A padlock or unbroken key symbol at the bottom of the browser window means the information you are sending is encrypted and can’t be read by other Internet users.
  
  
• Don’t carry vital documents like your passport, birth certificate or driving licence unless necessary. When sending them to the Passport Service or DVLA, do so by registered delivery or courier.
  
  
• Check your credit report for accuracy at least twice a year or, better still, have it monitored. Such services are available from the likes of Experian (www.creditexpert.co.uk), Callcredit (www.callcredit.plc.uk) and Equifax (www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk).
  
  
• Beware of ‘phishing.’ This is a new scam in which e-mails are sent out designed to trick recipients into handing over their bank details. A message in your in-box will appear to be from your bank, urging you to click on a link in order to prevent your account being closed or some other drastic but apparently plausible reason. The link will take you to a website that seems to be your bank’s and you will be asked to confirm your account number and other details, which the fraudster will use to siphon money from your account.

 

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