I’ve been a victim of identity fraud, what should I do?

Identity fraud can happen to anyone at any time. Even those who have taken extra steps to protect themselves can fall victim. Here are a few things you can do if you’re worried that your personal details have been stolen:

1. Let the lenders know.

If your details have been provided to lenders fraudulently, you should let them know.

It’s crucial that they put a stop to any activity being done without your permission. They’ll normally have a dedicated team to investigate queries like this. If they agree the information relates to fraud, they should be able to remove the information from your credit report. A crime reference number from Action Fraud can help with this.

The credit reference agencies are normally unable to intervene where fraudulent activity is suspected.

2. Apply for Protective Registration with Cifas.

Cifas is a fraud prevention organisation; if you purchase Protective Registration from them, they’ll add a note to your credit report. Cifas members would then have to take extra steps to verify your identity if they receive an application in your details. There is a fee for the application.

3. Add a Notice of Correction to your credit report.

This is a note of no more than 200 words and can explain to prospective lenders any information that may be questioned. You can choose to add a password to the Notice. Any application received in your details would then need to be manually processed and the password provided before any credit applications can be approved.

4. You may also want to report any fraudulent activity to Action Fraud.

They should be able to give you a crime reference number. This can be provided to any lenders who are reporting information on your credit report which relates to identity theft.

There are steps you can take to stay in control of the information held about you:

• Regularly check your credit report for new information. Nothing should come as a shock; if you check your payment history regularly, you’ll know what you can expect to see.

• Secure your personal information. Use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication where possible, and don’t share sensitive documents like passports or bank statements.

• Keep an eye on address links and searches. These normally reach your credit report first, before any connected accounts which may have been taken out fraudulently. If there’s anything that you don’t recognise, you should contact the lender involved directly.

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