Identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information to use for fraudulent purposes, such as your name, address, National Insurance number, or credit card information. Unfortunately, identity theft is all too common, particularly now that many of us carry our sensitive personal information around with us on our phones.
Despite this, there are ways you can protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. In this guide, we share a few steps you can take to keep yourself safe.
Protect your devices, accounts and documents
The key to avoiding identity theft is prevention. To ensure your devices, accounts, and documents are safe from scammers, you can:
- Protect your devices and your online accounts with strong passwords. Make sure to use different passwords for every account, to make it harder for hackers to gain access to your information.
- Consider setting up two-factor authentication for an added layer of protection, following guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
- Shred any paper documents that contain your personal information once you’re done with them. If you need to keep them, store them in a safe place in your home.
Check your accounts and credit report
If scammers have managed to get to your personal information, they could use it to commit financial fraud. For example, by taking out a loan or credit card in your name or making payments from your bank account. For this reason, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your account statements and your credit report to monitor for suspicious activity.
If you notice something unusual on your credit report, are suspicious about your credit score decreasing, or find transactions that you don’t recognise on your bank statement, you’ll need to report it to the appropriate organisation – such as your bank, credit union, or the police if you deem it to be an emergency. Contacting your bank is always recommended as the first line of action, as they can freeze your accounts to limit damage.
Know common scams
Scammers can be clever, and it’s possible to give away your personal information to them voluntarily without you realising you’re being targeted. There are multiple tactics they might use to gain access to your personal information. Some potential scams to be aware of include:
- Phishing: Scammers use deceptive emails to gain access to your information. They may send a fake email to you that looks to be from a reputable source to trick you into handing over your personal details. They may do the same over text – called smishing – or over the phone, which is called vishing.
- Fake websites: Cybercriminals may create fake websites to trick you into handing over your information. For example, they might pretend to be a popular retailer, so that you make an online purchase on their site and unknowingly provide access to your card details.
- Skimming: Scammers may interfere with electronic card readers or ATMs to gain access to your card details when you enter them into the machine.
While these scams are some of the most commonly seen, they are by no means an extensive list. It’s a good idea to be cautious about where and how you use your electronic devices and cards or share your personal information.
What should you do if you’ve been a victim of identity theft?
If you’re worried that you might be a victim of identity fraud, it’s best to take action to freeze your personal accounts. This could include changing passwords on any accounts in your name, including your social media accounts, if you’re able to. You can also head to your bank’s website – or give them a call – to report the fraud and freeze your bank accounts.
In the UK, you can call Action Fraud or report the theft to them online. You can also seek advice from the government website, or speak to a police officer if you’re particularly concerned. By monitoring your devices and accounts, knowing common scams, and understanding where to report suspicious activity, you put yourself in the best position to be protected against identity theft.
