Identity Theft

Trying to keep this within the realms of beer drinking, and without trying to generate ideas for would be likely id thieves; we are trying to make people aware of the dangers they may be facing, and warning of the consequences that may follow.

If you are going out, ONLY take what you need with you for that night. Try to plan ahead, and rather than take your wallet, crammed with things you really do not want to lose, order a pre-paid visa card, load it up with enough emergency credit to enable you to order a taxi home, and leave anything valuable at home.

Identity theft is on the increase. Open up your wallet or purse - or even handbag - and you will probably have enough there for someone to steal your identity.

For a start, you will have a driving license, which has ALL of the personal details a person may need. It is not a legal requirement to carry a Driving License in the UK, so put it somewhere safe, and do not carry it on you. Most banks do not require ID anymore. If you do not have your PIN when making withdrawals at the bank, then 9 times out of 10, the bank will not be able to accept your identification without a PIN. So THINK! Do I really need to carry it?

We all like to flatter ourselves, but if you look older than 21, leave the license at home.

Bank cards: Here we have the sort code and account number. Absolutely invaluable to an id thief. So they don't have your Driving License and don't know what your date of birth or address or even full name is. It doesn't matter. When applying for a bank account in the same name as you, the bank will ask them if they currently hold a UK bank account. In goes your sort code and account number. From the sort code they will know what the address of the branch is from a quick google search. This is how it begins.

Everyone has a National Insurance Card. While you think this is low risk, to an illegal immigrant, or a fraudster, it is invaluable. Whilst you are going out to work, they could be claiming benefits, disablement allowance, housing benefit, council tax benefit, mobility allowance; and claiming for 6 children. All in your name. These things DO happen. Don't assume it couldn't.

The thing we concern ourselves MOST about is the cash we carry, and that should be the LEAST on our mind when it comes to worrying about becoming a victim of fraud.

Usually, it can take 18 months to 3 years before you realise you have been a victim. Subscribe to Equifax or Experian, and make sure you keep up to date with the latest activity related to you and your address.


At home you need to be just as wary. If you receive application forms through the post, before you enter your financial CV onto the form, make sure that the address on the reply envelope is the genuine address. You could be sending off a fake application form to a fake address. You could even be sending supporting documents.

Do not give any personal information out over the phone. Make sure you are registered with the Telephone Preference Agency (TPS). Once you are registered, you may still receive sales calls from companies operating outside of the UK, such as America. Do not assume that they are genuine. If you feel suspicious then hang up. If you are too polite to do that, then just provide them with false information.

Cross shred all of the bank statements or utility bills you are throwing away. ANYTHING with your name and address on it, shred, or alternatively incinerate.

Finally, if you have an iPhone with email accounts linked to your phone, be VERY careful about losing your phone. Accessing your email address which is likely to contain messages in your inbox from your bank, or contain account passwords, will leave you equally as vulnerable to fraud.