Identity fraud

National Fraud Authority figures estimate the total annual cost of identity fraud to be around £1.9bn. (Source: National Fraud Authority)

Identity theft is when an individual's personal or confidential information is obtained by another person without their knowledge. Identity fraud occurs when criminals use this information to obtain credit, goods or other services in that person's name.

The impact of having your identity stolen can be considerable, and can result in having difficulty getting loans, credit cards or mortgages until the matter is sorted out.

Ultimately we all become the victims of fraud, as we end up paying higher prices in the shops, higher interest on our mortgages, and higher premiums on our insurance policies because of fraud.

It can also take a considerable amount of time and effort to put right the damage caused and clear your name.
 
But thanks to increasing awareness, and a better understanding of how criminals operate, there are many ways to spot it early, prevent it, and deal with it effectively.

Case study – read a real life example of how identity theft could impact you.

Damage can be done when seemingly insignificant information falls into the wrong hands.  But by increasing awareness and getting a better understanding of how criminals operate, we can spot identity fraud early and deal with it effectively. Here's how your identity could be stolen:

Bin raiding

Stealing documents from your rubbish or recycling to help build up a profile of you.

Electronically

internet viruses and phishing.

Card skimming

Retail staff copy your card details when you're making a purchase.

Unsolicited contact

Bogus phone calls from individuals claiming to be from banks or market researchers.

Letters

With incentives for handing over your information and credit card details.

Mail forwarding

Completing change-of-address forms to redirect your mail.

Mail interception

Obtaining documents that contain personal details.

You may say ‘it won’t happen to me’, but nobody is immune to identity theft. We can all take simple, effective steps to prevent it.

At Bank of Scotland we’re doing everything we can to help fight identity theft, and we’d like to help you protect against it too.

This section of our site tells you about our initiatives, and offers useful advice for ensuring that a fraudster is not closer than you think.

Remember – if something seems suspicious it's possibly fraudulent. By taking extra care of your personal information, you can really help reduce the risk of identity fraud. And if it does happen to you, rest assured, there’s plenty of help and advice – you’re not alone.

If you think your identity may have been stolen, don’t panic. Here’s what to do:

• Call us on 08457 21 31 41 if you’re concerned your Bank of Scotland bank account may have been compromised.
• Contact any other banks or credit card companies you use to cancel your cards and accounts.
• Check your credit status by contacting one of the three credit reference agencies:
• Experian
  www.experian.co.uk
  0844 481 8000
  PO Box 9000, Nottingham NG80 7WP
• Equifax
  www.equifax.co.uk
  PO Box 1140, Bradford BD1 5US
• CallCredit
  www.callcredit.co.uk
  0870 060 1414
  PO Box 491, Leeds LS3 1WZ
• Contact CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, to register for Protective Registration for protection against further attacks.
• Contact creditors, banks, phone companies and utility providers, and keep a record of all communications.
• Contact your local police and report the crime to get a reference number.