Identity theft is when your personal information is stolen and used to open bank accounts or to apply for cards, loans, or for government benefits and documents such as passports, and driving licences in your name.
Criminals can steal your identity in several ways, for example finding your credit card or bank statements in your rubbish or stealing your driving licence, cheque book or bank cards. They can use personal details such as your name, date of birth, current and previous addresses, and much more to commit identity theft.
Stealing your mail is another way criminals can access your personal information to commit identity theft. They might even set up a mail redirection for your address without you knowing.
Social media can also be used by criminals to access your personal information and build a picture of your identity to commit fraud.
Many victims never find out exactly how someone got hold of their details, and clearing things up afterwards can be costly and stressful. Becoming a victim of this type of fraud can mean you find it difficult to obtain loans, credit cards or mortgages in future.
How can you protect yourself?
- Your bank or the police will never call you to ask you to verify your personal and bank details or ask you to send them large amounts of cash or expensive gifts via post for safekeeping. If in doubt stop hang up and call 159 (ideally from a different phone)
- Look out for transactions on your bank statement that you don’t recognise.
- Sign up for one of the transaction verification services offered by Matercard, Visa and American Express
- Check for letters you receive about loans, debt or cards that you didn’t apply for.
- Similarly, check if you’re receiving bills, invoices or receipts for goods or services you didn’t ask for.
- Be cautious of sharing any personal or financial information on social media.
- Never provide give your address details or post pictures that can be used to identify where you live on social media
- Contact your bank immediately if something is not right or you think your information might be compromised.
- Sign up to the Telephone Preference Service to prevent marketing phone calls.
Total losses from card identity theft amounted to £58.7m in 2024, based on UK Finance’s latest annual fraud report.
