Identity Fraud is the UK's latest growing type of fraud. There is one case of identity theft committed every four minutes and it is costing UK consumers more than £1.3 billion each year. Fraudsters are able to steal an identity by simply getting hold of personal details - from documents such as bank statements, credit card receipts and bills. A common way of gaining this information is through 'bin raiding' the simple act of delving through household waste to find personal documents.
How can you avoid becoming a victim?
- Shred ALL paperwork which reveals personal information such as bank statements, shopping receipts, personal correspondence ets.
- Always keep important documents, plastic cards and cheque books in a safe and secure place. Keep cheque books and cards separately.
- Don't share personal information unless you are entirely confident you know who you are dealing with. Beware the bogus e-mails.
- Always check bank statements, and check receipts against your statements carefully.
- Contact your bank or building society immediately if you are concerned about an expenditure you do not recognise.
- Be aware that your post is valuable information in the wrong hands.
- If you move house make sure you contact your and all other organisations to give them your change of address (the Post Office can redirect post on request).
We recently heard of a tenant in Hillingdon who received a letter from Aylesbury Council warning her not to fly-tip in their area. She had not set foot in Aylesbury, had never, and would never consider fly tipping. So what had happened?
The only explanation that the authorities could come up with was that the lady in question had put out her re-cycling rubbish one evening for the Council re-cycling collection the follow-ing day. This bag must have been picked up by some unscruptulous person who was looking for personal information and had dumped the remaining rubbish at Aylesbury.
PLEASE PLEASE destroy your paperwork before putting it out !!
