Protect your identity

Fraudsters try to find your details anywhere online and even in your rubbish.

Learn how to stop them from stealing your identity.

 

Identity (ID) theft

You need to protect your ID. If stolen, fraudsters can use it to:

  • Control your bank account.
  • Move or spend your money.
  • Use your name to apply for loans and other finance. 
  • Move stolen money through your account.

There are a number of warning signs that can help you to spot if your ID has been stolen.

Warning signs of identity theft

Odd payments

Always keep track of your payments, so we can protect your account.

If you don’t recognise a payment in or out of your bank or credit card account, contact us right away.

If your identity is stolen, take immediate action to reduce any damage or loss.

Unexpected post

Fraudsters can use your name and address to apply for things like credit cards. If you get a card unexpectedly, contact the company who sent it immediately.

For help with stolen letters or to re-direct your post, contact Royal Mail.

Credit problems

Check your credit history to make sure there are no odd entries.

If you believe your credit score is good, but you can’t get credit, your ID may have been stolen.

Discover your credit score with our free credit check. It also tells you what you’re doing well and what you could improve.

Calls about debt

If fraudsters use your ID to buy things, debt collectors or companies may call about money you owe.

How to protect your details

Who do you trust online?

Fraudsters create genuine looking social media profiles and use online groups and communities.

Be careful who you chat with or trust online, as they may be trying to steal your details or sell you something that doesn’t exist.

Always check that a seller is genuine before you buy anything online. 

Discover how to buy online safely

Share with care

Think carefully about what you put online and who you share it with.

Details like your name, address and date of birth may help a fraudster, so keep them private.

Do you know what other people share about you online? Your friends, family and followers might post things that could be used for a scam. So, make sure you know what they share.

Your social media privacy settings let you choose who can see your posts. 

Create a separate account for your professional life and always follow a platform’s safety advice.

Are you too quick to click?

Fraudsters use emails, texts and social media to send fake links and attachments.

Always check a message is genuine before you click a link or download anything. This will help you to avoid scams, fake websites and computer viruses.

Call a sender to confirm they sent a message. Use a phone number you trust, not one from an email, text or social media message.

On your mobile device, tap an email address to see the full address. With a computer, hover your mouse cursor over it. Always check that the email address matches the sender’s name.

It’s safer to type a link into the browser bar at the top of your screen than clicking on one.

If a website address starts with https:// and has a closed padlock image, you know the connection is secure. But a site could still be fake. Search online to use a free email, link or website checker.

Other ways fraudsters steal and use your details

  • To discover if your details have been stolen from a website, use a free online service such as Have I Been Pwned.

    If fraudsters have your details, change your passwords and security questions for the site and any other sites where you use the same information.

  • If you enter a fake online quiz or competition, fraudsters can use your answers or personal details to guess your passwords.

    Make sure it’s genuine first. Avoid using your main email address and never enter your banking details or other private information.

    Be careful if it wants you to sign in to your social media account, as this can give away some of your details.

    Never trust anyone who wants you to pay for a prize they say you’ve won.

  • Fraudsters need your details to understand who you are. It can help them to target and trick you in a scam, for example, to:

    • Win your trust on a scam call.
    • Build a tempting investment scam.
    • Create a dating profile that sets you up for a romance scam.

    Fraudsters look for letters and receipts that have your personal or banking details. Instead of throwing them away, you should store them securely or destroy them.

    Get your bank account, credit card and loan statements online. Find out how to go paper-free.

Help from other organisations

Register with CIFAS

CIFAS can prevent fraudsters from using your name to apply for products or services.

Visit CIFAS website

Police Scotland

To report a scam, contact Police Scotland on 101.

Contact Police Scotland

Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself

Scam emails and texts

Find out how fraudsters try to steal your details.

Avoid scam messages

Scam calls

Find out how fraudsters can use your details to win your trust.

Avoid scam calls

Protect your devices

Do you know how to keep your devices safe?

Learn about device safety

Protect your passwords

Fraudsters will try to guess passwords to your online accounts.

How to create strong passwords

Investment scams

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies and advisers.

Avoid investment scams

Romance scams

Learn how fraudsters with fake profiles just want your money.

How to safely date online

Learn about the latest scams

Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to try to steal your details and money. Discover which scams are common right now.

Go to latest scams

Have you been targeted by fraudsters?

Contact us right away if you think you've been scammed. We can then guide you on what to do next.

Contact us now

Stay scam safe

Discover how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud

Stay scam safe

Discover how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud