Sponsored by
How to protect your identity...
INCREASING numbers of customers are seeking advice to help protect against identity fraud.
More than half of people living in Yorkshire say that they are more concerned about ID fraud than they were 12 months ago, according to Leeds-based credit report firm Call Credit.
It is not surprising when you consider that the crime is costing the economy 1.2bn a year - the equivalent of 25 per adult living in the UK, according to the Identity Fraud Steering Committee (IFSC).
A big chunk of this money is being spent on anti-theft systems as well as on the prosecution of the criminal opportunists. It also covers the financial loss to organisations, which are often picking up the bill for us little people.
The telecoms industry handled 485m worth of fraudulently obtained mobile phones, premium rate services and long distance calls in 2007/8.
The financial sector lost 201m from account takeovers and fraudulent third party applications.
IFSC was set up in 2003 to identify effective measures to tackle identity fraud.
Public and private sector organisations sit on the committee, including HM Revenue and Customs, the Financial Services Authority and the British Bankers' Association.
The good news is that fraudsters are finding it more difficult to use fake identities to open accounts and take out loans because of bank belt-tightening, the All Party Group on ID cards reported last week. The bad news is that they are now increasingly having to target ordinary people.
Owen Roberts, ID fraud expert at the Leeds-based credit report provider Callcredit, said: "The unfortunate truth is that with the involvement of organised criminals and frequent revelations of personal data being lost, identity fraud has become a fact of life for UK consumers.
"We can, and must, all play our part in the fight against identity fraud which as individuals means ensuring we take steps to discourage, detect and deflect any attempt to steal our identity."
A few simple steps can be taken to prevent ID fraud, said Mr Roberts, such as checking your credit report regularly for suspicious accounts, shredding unwanted documents and making sure your anti-virus is up to date can often be enough to protect your identity.
"Falling victim to identity fraud can be a harrowing experience, but a small amount of time spent now can save you from months of trying to reclaim control of your own name," he added.
Use this check list to assess whether you are at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft:
You have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence;
Post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all;
You identify entries on your personal credit file from organisations you do not normally deal with;
Items have appeared on your bank or credit-card statements that you do not recognise;
You applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming,
You receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven't asked for;
You have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history;
A mobile-phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge;
You have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren't yours;
Financial institutions that you do not normally deal with contact you to chase an outstanding debt.
Fraud techniques
The most common form of ID fraud reported to credit reference agency Experian was "forwarding address fraud" - where a fraudster redirects the victim's post to a drop address that he/she then visits to collect mail.
According to Experian's Victims of Fraud team, people most likely to fall victim to identity fraud are those in rented accommodation – either private or social. They are more likely to share mailboxes and tend to move house more frequently than homeowners. This provides fraudsters with more of an opportunity to misuse credit histories that have not been updated.
TOP TIPS
TOP tips to protecting your identity from Call Credit
Do not throw your identity away - keep track of important personal documents and shred anything you no longer want that contains information about you
Always check statements and watch out for small unrecognised transactions as these can be a precursor to serious spending by a fraudster
Make certain you are watching for warning signs by regularly checking your credit report through services such as www.callcreditcheck.com
Keep passwords and PIN codes safe and do not disclose them to anyone
Do not broadcast your identity on the internet by failing to protect your PC
Key contacts for ID issues
APACS - for information and advice to stay safe online - call 020 7711 6200, or go to www.apacs.org.uk and/or www.banksafeonline.org.uk
British Bankers' Association - general consumer advice for banking-related products and services - call 020 7216 8800 or go to www.bba.org.uk
Financial Services Authority - information on finance-related scams and swindles - call 0845 606 1234 or go to www.fsa.gov.uk and/or www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/scams.
CardWatch - information and tips on using your plastic cards safely - www.cardwatch.org.uk/
CIFAS - the UK's Fraud Prevention Service - www.cifas.org.uk/
Identity fraud organisation - information about identity fraud and how to apply for protective registration - www.identityfraud.org.uk
Callcredit - a credit reference agency that can let you monitor rogue activity and stamp out ID fraud - call 0113 244 1555, visit One Park Lane, Leeds or go to www.callcredit.co.uk/home
Experian - a credit reference agency that can let you monitor rogue activity and stamp out ID fraud - call 0844 481 8000 or go to www.experian.co.uk
Equifax - a credit reference agency that can let you monitor rogue activity and stamp out ID fraud - call 0870 010 2091 or go to www.equifax.co.uk.Account emptied of 1,000 in Brazil
HELENA Bates was hundreds of miles from home when she had more than 1,000 stolen from her bank account.
The 20-year-old had been volunteering at a Brazilian orphanage while on a gap year before starting at Leeds University when fraudsters cloned her bank card and left her penniless.
It is thought that her card was replicated by an illegal card skimming device that had been attached to a high street cash machine Helena used while in Rio de Janeiro.
Thankfully, the school leaver had no trouble convincing her bank on returning to the UK that it would have been impossible for her to have simultaneously withdrawn money from ATMs located in two different towns.
"I freaked out a bit while I was there as my account had been completely emptied," said Helena who now lives in Hyde Park, Leeds.
"The bank said I should wait until I got home to sort things but I couldn't help but think I should be taking action like reporting it to the police to have some kind of record of what had happened.
"Sure enough when I got back the money was returned to me within a few days.
"I was lucky really, as had this happened at the beginning of my six month trip I would not have been able to stay."
Helena has since learned a few tricks of her own to make sure she stays safe in future.
"I'm amazed this ever happened as I am usually pretty observant.
"I've learned now that you should only withdraw cash from machines located in banks or shopping centres where there is security and CCTV.
"Also it is wise to travel with two debit cards and two current accounts in case one is targeted."We've lost confidence
OUR faith in high street banks has plummeted as people say they have also lost trust in Government-backed institutions, research has shown.
Just 16 per cent of consumers have confidence in a major high street bank, less than half the 33 per cent who trusted one of them last year, according to market analyst Mintel.
Instead, one in four people said the Treasury-backed National Savings and Investment (NS&I) was the institution they most trusted with their money, although this had also fallen sharply compared with 12 months ago, when 39 per cent of people put the group at the top of their list.
Beyond Government backing, the survey showed that shoppers were most likely to trust financial institutions who demonstrated a traditional approach to banking.
A great ad for fresh food
A WEST Yorkshire supermarket has won a major award for its latest campaign advertising fresh food.
Morrisons picked up the Retail Campaign of the Year award at the Marketing Week Effectiveness Awards on Thursday.
Fresh Choice For You, which featured household names such as Denise van Outen, Lulu and Alan Hansen, promoted the fact that the store's staff prepare more fresh food in-store than any other retailer.
It was also the advert that most viewers could recall when it first took to television screens last summer.
In a double whammy, the store's Marc Bolland also picked up a gong for Chief Executive of the Year.
Car trader's top award
LEEFORD Motor Co is the latest regional garage to win the award for excellence in customer care.
It will be awarded for its "commitment to fair and honest practices" by the Motor Trade Partnership later this month.
The industry standard was set up by West Yorkshire Trading Standards to bring confidence to consumers, who are often apprehensive when buying a car or simply choosing a place to service their vehicle.
It rewards reputable dealerships and garages.
To learn more about the scheme go to www.mtp.wyts.org.uk or call government advice line Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
