Identity Theft Advice

[edd_jedi]

I have received a debit card in the post from a bank that I don't have an account with and have never applied for. The card came with a card saying they think it may have been a fraudulent application. I phoned the bank to ask what was going on, and they said somebody has applied for a card in my name/address etc. They have cancelled it so on this occasion no damage has been done, but this is (as far as I know) the first time I've been a victim of identity theft.

Can anybody offer any advice on anything I can do to find out if anything else has been applied for in my name? I'm usually pretty careful with throwing out bills/letters etc but as with many on here I buy, sell and post a lot of stuff so it's not exactly difficult to find out my name and address. But what else do these cunts need to do this?

 

[yoda]

It is very hard stopping those bastards getting our details. If I wer you I would check all the banks to see if a new account or anything was attempted to be open or nother card applied for. Obviously it's hard to check everything but at least it might keep your money safe

 

[edd_jedi]

I checked my credit report and it doesn't show any unusual credit checks.

 

[Michael Sith]

It is very worrying, but sounds like you've looke into it straight away Edd

Cyber fraud is one of the biggest issues today and something we all have to be very wary of.

The fact that someone has got hold of your details and attempted to use them, is concern enough, even though they have been unsuccessful, I would ask the bank in question what they intend to do about it, ( and speak to your own bank as well), at least that way you will have some reference set down with an organisation or agency that you have taken the reasonable steps within your power to protect yourself ( bit like having a crime ref number) always a good idea to be able to retrospectively reference this attempt.


Have a look at this link, may help, there is a contact number on there as well, it's a national organisation set up with the police, so might be of use.

http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/about-us

Report it to your bank asap, they are responsible for investigating and reporting any criminal activity to the police
Have you lost any important docs recently, driving licence, passport, cards, cheque books etc
Sound out your credit report ( looks like you've done that)

Hope it helps mate

 

[edd_jedi]

Great advice, thanks!

 

[x-pack]

It's really annoying. Last year I discovered someone had been taking money from my account. It was a pound one month and £25 the next. Because of the smallish amounts and with various payments going here and there I never noticed for about 8 months! Luckily the bank paid me back.

The moral of that story is to thoroughly check your statements :roll:

 

[MarkG]

I got done a few years back. Checked my online banking and found 3 payment accounts had been set up....one in my name but to a unknown account. Had a few k taken too.

Bank was superb, locked my account, paid back all the lost cash, set up a new account and transfered all my dds over.

Never did find out how or who had done it... but think I might have got hit from a cashpoint.

Don't think there is anyway of avoiding getting scammed... like with a car.. if someone wants it, they will get it no matter what.

Defo have to keep your eyes on everything nowadays.

 

[timbo72]

What the other guys have said. Your bank will have a fraud department so you should speak with them. When I was with Lloyds, two car insurance payments of £180 had been taken from my account. As soon as I noticed, went into my bank and they paid the money back straight away and kept me posted with updates. Was someone in south Africa who got my details. Go figure

 

[lejackal]

Your name and address will be readily available, dob could be found on social media, look for a happy birthday post and then find out your age and with that you could probably go and apply for something basic. Once you have that it's proof to someone else a second application is also legit and so on. Checking your credit file is essential and although most probably don't check statements with a fine tooth comb we pretty much all should.

 

[Richard_H]

Do you mean that you've checked your credit reports and not report? Mine are different in a number of aspects.

clearscore.com and noddle are two online free credit reports.

 

[edd_jedi]

Yes Noddle is what I used, there have been no checks against my credit score since I did my car insurance a few months ago according to the site.

 

[Richard_H]

have you checked clearscore too. Virgin bank doesn't use noddle but do use clearscore. That's how I spotted the bastards had a default against me which took months to erase. They claimed I owed £26 for over 3 years. Never did.

 

[edd_jedi]

Thanks Rich will check it out.

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

Edd, an important thing to know is that if the scumbags have opened any bank account WITHOUT an overdraft facility is will not show up on a credit check. The only way for this to be found is for your bank to do a UK wide check. This is usually instigated upon a Police request. You may ask what use a fraudster would have for a bank account W/O an O/D facility? Trust me; lots.

Some great advice already and I would heartily recommend reporting it to Action Fraud in the first instance.

 

[Ian_C]

I don't have a lot to add to what has already been said, but I feel bad for you Edd. Being a victim of fraud is brutal, and one of the worst invasions of privacy one can get.

Since you don't know how they got your info, you may want to check other cards as well. Department store cards, phone cards, anything of that nature. Make sure they haven't been using them without your knowledge. I'm sure they haven't, but it doesn't hurt to check.

Best of luck,

Ian

 

[stormcab]

All I can imagine you can do is just keep checking your statements. It's so easy nowadays. I have the Natwest app on my phone. Thumb print id and I'm in in seconds to just check the last few days has ok.

I've had 2 experiences with card fraud over the last 15 years. First (early 2000s) I had applied for a card, and was just waiting for it to arrive. Before it did, I thought I'd call them and ask if I could do a balance transfer, no problem they said. When I gave them how much I wanted to transfer, which was below the max, they told me it wasn't going through as I had already put a chunk on there, meaning it would be over. Hang on, I haven't even got the card yet! Back then I had to go to a police station and get a crime report written up just to show I wasn't just "saying it". Anyway, refunded no probs. Someone, probably the postman, had gone on a £1000 spending spree in B&Q.

Second was 2014, booked a holiday to the Caribbean. I booked all the individual flights and accommodation myself. Flights to the US, transfer to the island, accommodation on the island, inter island flight to a smaller island, then accommodation there. I only found out something had happened a few weeks after getting home. I got a £25 charge from my card company for going over my £2500 limit, yet I knew the elements of the holiday weren't that much. Statement showed £500+ spent on online child's clothes and books. Bloody weird, as those items would have to be delivered to an address, which would be easy to trace for the police. This time I just had to sign a form saying it wasn't me who bought those items. What was weird was the card company couldn't tell me who it was or how they'd been able to use my card. Maybe it was because they thought there was a chance I knew them and would warn them. Maybe telling me would reveal a weakness in the system I could use myself?

I guess as long as you are good the rest of the time, the banks won't give you any grief as this clearly isn't happening regularly enough for them to be worried you're a wrongun.

May I also suggest this little option when using a credit card to pay for things outside of the country like the things I did - have a credit card with a low amount on it. Say £1000-3000 so someone can't whack on £5000 and you don't know until a month later.

 

[spoons]

have you checked clearscore too. Virgin bank doesn't use noddle but do use clearscore. That's how I spotted the bastards had a default against me which took months to erase. They claimed I owed £26 for over 3 years. Never did.

Interesting thread - just used clearscore and scary how they know my mortgage and cc debt :shock:

Didn't go through with Noddle as they asked me to input my credit card details. Then I checked them online https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/noddle.co.uk

Not great reviews

On the other hand Clearscore has great reviews https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/clearscore.com