‘Tis the season for ID fraud

At this time of year, most of us are spending as though our lives depend on it and, with the festive season upon us, we are either more relaxed than usual or more stressed.

Both emotional extremes – when combined with increased spending patterns - can lead to us being more vulnerable than usual to identity fraud. But whatever the time of year, and particularly in the light of recent high profile data breaches, follow these CIFAS guidelines to protect yourself against identity fraud:

Keep all your personal information secure (shield your PIN number from people queuing behind you, don’t carry your personal documents, PIN or passwords with you) etc.

During the party season, take particular care of your handbag or wallet. Don’t give thieves a chance. And be careful with your credit and debit cards. Don’t let them out of your sight.

When buying online – keep your passwords secure at all times, ensure that you have up-to-date security software, only use sites that provide secure payments and be sure you know who you are dealing with (getsafeonline.org).

Shred documents when you dispose of them, including Christmas cards, envelopes, credit card slips, bank statements and anything bearing your name, address and/or signature.

Examine your bank statement carefully, especially as there will be more transactions than usual.

Check your credit reference agency file regularly for unfamiliar items and take prompt action if you spot anything strange.

If anyone in your family, especially teenagers or children, use social networking sites (eg Friends Reunited, Bebo, MySpace or Facebook) make sure they don’t inadvertently give away personal information (or, for example, details that could be useful to burglars).

Don’t forget to keep your home secure, and keep your personal documents locked away. Theft or loss of documents such as your driving licence or passport should be notified immediately.
CIFAS Protective Registration. Use this service if you have personal documents stolen. (Contact the service on 0870 010 2091). There is a charge of £11.75.

Don’t give your personal details to callers, charity collectors or “researchers” in the street. Check whether they are truly who they claim to be before giving them any information. Be just as careful when taking telephone calls. Fraudsters may try to dupe you into believing they are from banks or other companies. If you give them your account and security details they could run up huge debts in your name.