| Clever thieves no longer seek to steal your valuable | | | | might successfully open a bank account, all in your |
| possessions; they are far more interested in stealing | | | | name. They might even try to redirect your mail. |
| you, or at least your identity. If they steal your TV | | | | Slowly but surely, they build up their credibility that |
| or your car, they have one item, they then have to | | | | they really are you. And when they have that, and |
| sell it, and the chances are, your insurance will cover | | | | only when they are quite ready, do they launch their |
| the cost. | | | | sting by applying for countless loans and credit cards |
| If they successfully steal you, they have an unlimited | | | | in your name. With those, they get a pin number, and |
| opportunity to raise cash through numerous scams. | | | | their version of your signature, which they can |
| They can take out loans, apply for credit cards in | | | | reproduce on demand. |
| your name and max them out, even apply for a | | | | By the time you find out all about it, it is too late. |
| mortgage, or attempt to sell your house. That has | | | | The perpetrator has left the county with all the |
| actually happened. Fact is they are much more likely | | | | squeezed cash taken in your name, and your credit |
| to break into your trashcans, than your precious | | | | rating shot to bits, albeit temporarily, though that can |
| home. So, what can you do about it? | | | | take a lot of time and convincing to put right. |
| Buy a shredder for a start. That is no new advice, | | | | Never give any details to cold telephone calling |
| shredder sales have rocketed in the past five years, | | | | individuals no matter how persuasive, convincing or |
| and when you have one, use it. Shred all personal | | | | worthy they may sound. Never issue details of bank |
| documents before you ditch them, and it is good | | | | and financial accounts over the net when banks |
| advice to buy an expensive shredder too, one that | | | | apparently suddenly request you to confirm your |
| can deal with handfuls of papers at a time. You do | | | | banking information. They don't do that, it is a scam |
| not want to have to spend all day feeding individual | | | | and the opponent is simply trying to wheedle vital |
| docs into a weary machine. | | | | information from you when your guard is down. |
| When you move house make sure that you redirect | | | | They often dress this up as if they are acting in your |
| all your mail, and tell everyone, especially credit card | | | | best interests. "We are beefing up our internet |
| companies, mail order catalogue businesses, banks, | | | | security measures" they say, something that you |
| finance houses of your new whereabouts. Keep the | | | | would be eager to see and agree to in normal |
| redirection service in place for as long as possible | | | | circumstances. But hang on; think about it for a |
| because some companies take ages to amend their | | | | moment. Just because the email looks exactly like |
| admin. When I was renting out property I came | | | | the ones you see from your usual bank, is it really |
| across several cases of tenants buying expensive | | | | from them? How do you know? Fact is you don't, |
| goods from mail order catalogues in the previous | | | | and you could be in trouble. You could be being |
| tenant's or owner's names with never any intention | | | | targeted. Check it out thoroughly. |
| of paying for them. If they were ever questioned | | | | Never put screwed up docs in the trash, and try to |
| about it, they would immediately deny all knowledge | | | | keep your rubbish secure. If you see some hoody |
| of the fraud, and the bills ended up on the former | | | | sorting through your junk, the chances are he is not |
| occupier's doormat. | | | | searching for scraps to eat. He's looking for scraps all |
| Remember, accomplished identity fraudsters are | | | | right, scraps of vital information from which he can |
| patient people. They gradually build up a profile of | | | | build up a picture of you, your profile, your date of |
| their intended victim, and they do not need a full set | | | | birth, your social security number, your banking |
| of documentation to get started. Perhaps they only | | | | information, your driving licence details, even your |
| need an old bank statement to get going. Then they | | | | passport information if they can achieve that, and it's |
| could knock something else up on a PC, scanning any | | | | certainly not funny of they do. Always be alert to |
| organisation's letterhead into their machine to make | | | | identity fraud. Don't give these horrible individuals any |
| the final documents look totally convincing. With that | | | | opportunity to become you, because if they do, it |
| they can apply for a driving licence and with that | | | | could take you years to untangle the mess. |