When Sandra Bullock’s character returns from her holiday in the 1995 film The Net she finds that her driver's licence, her credit cards and her bank account details have all been deleted. Even her home belongs to someone else. This film may have seemed far-fetched at the time, but today cyber crime is a real and increasingly prevalent problem.
Identity crisis
If criminals find out your personal details they can use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licences in your name.
And don’t think that it can’t happen to you. In 2007, 65,000 people in the UK were the victims of identity theft (source:CIFAS)
Criminals usually steal your personal information either by taking documents from your rubbish or by making contact with you (often by phone or email) and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation.
Protecting your identity
To help protect your identity and prevent criminals from committing fraud in your name you need to be protective of your personal information. And if you live in a property where other people could have access to your mail, you need to be extra vigilant. If this is the case, your bank or credit-card company may be able to arrange for you to collect valuable items such as new cards from a local branch.
If you suspect your mail is being stolen, contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Line on 08457 740 740. Check with them whether a mail redirection order has been made in your name without your knowledge.
Never carry documents or plastic cards unnecessarily when you are out and about. When not in use keep them in a safe place.
If you move house, change your details with your bank, card issuer and all the other organisations you deal with immediately. Ask the Royal Mail to redirect any mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year.
Consider using a Mailing Preference Service to limit the amount of unwanted mail you receive – even junk mail can be used to gather important information about you.
Bank cards and other information
If your credit or bank cards are stolen, cancel them immediately. Don’t use the same password for more than one account and never use banking passwords for any other websites.
Check statements as soon as you get them. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact the company concerned immediately.
When you are giving your card details or personal information out over the phone, online or in a shop, make sure other people cannot hear or see what you are doing.
Never give personal or account details to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. Be suspicious even if they claim to be from your bank or the police. Ask for their phone number first and call them back to check they are a genuine caller. A bank will never ask for your PIN or for a whole security number or password.
It is also important not to throw away complete bills, receipts, credit or debit-card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post addressed to you. Destroy any unwanted documents before you bin them, preferably with a shredder.
If you want to be super-vigilant, you can obtain copies of your personal credit file from a credit reference agency such as Callcredit , Equifax or Experian. These agencies will be able to tell you which financial organisations have accessed your details. The Home Office recommends that you check your personal credit file in this way two to three months after you have moved house.
Avoid being the victim of cyber crime and spending hours on the phone trying to reorganise your life by keeping a close eye on your personal information. It may not seem like much, but in the wrong hands a few names, addresses and numbers can cause a lot of damage.
How can Direct Line home insurance help?
Direct Line Home Insurance Plus policies include an identity fraud and detection service as standard. This provides early detection and expert assistance if you do fall victim to identity fraud.
Our Home Insurance Plus policy also comes withHome Emergency cover, Annual Travel insurance, and a range of other benefits as standard. Use this website to get a quote for Home Insurance Plus and compare it alongside our standard Buildings and contents cover.
Related information:
Home Insurance Plus – Find out more about the benefits of the Direct Line Home Insurance plus policy
Safe house – we look at a mix of high tech and more traditional methods for keeping your house secure
Beat the burglar – easy steps to take that will make your home less at risk
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