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