Identity Theft – Don’t be a victim
Your identity and personal information are valuable.
Criminals can find out your personal details and use them
to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state
benefits and documents such as passports and driving
licences in your name. If your identity is stolen, you may
have difficulty getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage
until the matter is sorted out.
 
According to figures just released from the Home Office,
identity theft is one of the fastest-growing U.K. crimes.
Their figures show that it is increasing more than 500%
each year.
 
There are many different reasons as to why the statistics
on identity theft have increased so dramatically over
recent years, especially with advances made in technology.
The growth of computers and the Internet in the world of
today has been exponential, making it so much easier for
people to be able to steal someone else's identity.
 
Identity theft can occur in a variety of ways. Thieves
steal individuals personal information to take over their
credit accounts, open new ones, take out a loan, rent a
flat, access bank accounts, or commit many other crimes in
someone else's name and at their expense. Such crimes
include obtaining state benefits, driving licenses and most
lucratively passports all in the victim's name.
 
When it strikes, the effects can be devastating. What's
more, because it frequently involves no physical theft,
identity theft may not be noticed by its victims until
significant damage has been done, which is often several
months and thousands of pounds later.
 
You may become a victim of identity theft if you have lost
or had stolen important documents such as your passport or
driving licence. Alternatively it could apply if post
expected from your bank has not arrived or you are
receiving post at all.
 
You may already be a victim of identity theft if items have
appeared on your bank or credit card statements that you do
not recognize, or you have applied for a state benefit but
are told that you are already claiming. Other things to
look for is if you receive bills, invoices or receipts
addressed to you for goods or services you haven't asked
for. You may have been refused a financial service, such as
a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit
history. Becoming more common is where a mobile phone
contract has been set up in your name without your
knowledge. Finally, you may have received letters from
solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren't yours.
 
A person who has had their identity stolen will find it
difficult to getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage
until the matter is sorted out.  If you think you are a
victim, act quickly to make sure you are not liable for
financial losses caused by criminals using your identity.
Report lost or stolen documents, such as passports, driving
licences, credit cards and cheque books to the organization
that issued them. If someone has fraudulently opened an
account in your name, contact the company concerned
immediately. Contact your bank or credit card company to
report suspicious transactions on your statement. Finally,
get a copy of your personal credit file and report any
suspicious entries. Report the matter to your local police
and ask for a crime reference number.
 
Residents in the United Kingdom can contact CIFAS, which is
the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, to apply for protective
registration if you believe you are a victim of identity
fraud or at risk of becoming one. Once you have registered,
CIFS members will carry out extra checks whenever anyone,
including you, applies for a financial service using your
address. They do this to make sure that a criminal is not
trying to commit fraud by pretending to be you. You will
have to pay a charge for this service.
 
 
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Identity Theft - Don't be a victim! has been written by
Michael Saville. He has written numerous articles on all
aspects of identity theft and how individuals can avoid
being a victim of identity theft. These have been collected