Identity theft is rarely far from the headlines as more and more people lose out to fraudsters who steal their personal details.
The latest figures from the fraud prevention service - Cifas - show a continuing surge in identity fraud in the first half of 2010, with a 14 per cent jump compared with the same period in 2009.
There was also a 22 per cent increase in the number of victims of impersonation in this time, pushing the total over 50,199.
How can my identity be stolen?
There are many ways in which identity fraud may be committed.
A thief may steal your identity by getting hold of a bank statement or utility bill thrown out with the rubbish, or by accessing your details through a social networking site such as Facebook or LinkedIn.
You could also fall victim if you reveal enough information by replying to a fraudulent email telling you that you have won a prize in a foreign lottery.
The fraudster will then use your details to open bank accounts, take out loans and credit cards, and take over your existing accounts.
Who is at risk?
Easy targets include those living in rented accommodation, as they often share communal halls where post is left until collected by individual tenants.
Individuals who move house also leave themselves at risk if they fail to get their post forwarded to their new address.
Look out for the tell-tale signs
Indications that your identity has been stolen include payments you don’t recognise appearing on your bank and credit card statements, welcome letters from card and loan companies when you have not applied for credit, and debt collection agencies seeking payment of unknown debts.
Identity theft is extremely serious, as not only can it become more difficult for you to obtain, loans, credit cards or a mortgage if vast bills are racked up in your name – severely damaging your credit rating – but other crimes can also be committed using your stolen identity.
Take action straight away
If you are concerned that you have fallen victim, you need to act immediately.
Contact your bank as soon as possible so they can carry out further investigations and if necessary, report the fraud to the police.
You should also inform your credit reference agency and report all lost or stolen documents to the relevant organisation; if you think your mail is being redirected, notify Royal Mail.
Protect yourself
The good news is, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid falling victim.
Never leave bank, credit card or other statements unopened; scan them thoroughly, looking out for any transactions you don’t recognise.
Always shred financial documents and anything with your name, address and account details on it.
Never give out your password or pin number over the phone to someone claiming to be from your bank. If in doubt, call them back on the official number.
Do not respond to “phishing” emails purporting to be from your bank, and asking for your account information and security details; giveaway signs can be spelling and grammatical errors.
If you move house, get your mail redirected and write to all financial institutions with your new address.
Limit the amount of information you share on social networking sites, and use the highest possible security setting; also keep the anti-virus software on your computer updated.
Get into the habit of checking your credit rating on a regular basis. For a cost of £2, you can get your record from one of the credit reference agencies - www.equifax.co.uk , www.experian.co.uk or www.callcredit.co.uk.
Register with Cifas
If you have been a victim of identity theft, you should register with Cifas, as extra checks will then be carried out whenever anyone applies for a financial service using your name and address. Get safe online also offers help on protecting yourself against ID theft.
