PrivacyGuard UK Blog

Avoid Identify Theft While on Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 09:46:00 +0000

The last thing you want to encounter on your hard-earned break is identity theft. Yet holidaymakers can inadvertently put themselves at risk by carrying around personal items, such as passports, driving licences and credit cards.

Whether holidaying abroad or in the UK, you need to be vigilant. Fraudsters can steal your identity if they get hold of details such as your full name, address, date of birth, phone number and credit card or bank account numbers – all details they could attain simply by taking your wallet. They could then open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or loans, order goods in your name, take out mobile phone contracts or even obtain genuine documents in your name, such as passports and driving licences.

When travelling, you also need to take extra care when using credit cards and ATMs. One technique thieves use to steal identities at ATMs is called skimming. This could involve them attaching a device that scans the magnetic strip of the card, or using a hidden camera to record your PIN, which then allows them to access your account while pretending to be you. We recommend you inspect ATMs before using them, and those located inside banks are less likely to be tampered with. If anything seems wrong, speak to the bank to check before using it.

PrivacyGuard suggests doing the following to help protect your identity while on holiday
• Keep personal possessions out of sight, always secure bags and make use of concealed money belts
• Store passports and other personal documents in hotel safes
• Take care when using ATMs and always shield the keys with your hand when entering your PIN
• Don’t write down passwords or PIN numbers
• Make sure you have your bank’s contact details on hand in case you need to cancel your card
• Password protect your smartphone
• Make sure you log out of any sites you visit on a public computer and take care not to tick boxes to keep you logged in
• Check your statements once you’re home and report anything suspicious to your bank or financial service provider

If you’re a victim of Identity fraud, PrivacyGuard can help you react quickly and efficiently, reducing the time, money and paperwork it normally takes to reinstate your identity. Privacyguard membership also offers both online access to your credit report as well as an alerts service, helping protect you from fraud and identity theft attempts.

Impersonation: the Most Feared Type of Fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:26:00 +0000

Are you guilty of writing down your passwords or sharing personal details on social media sites? Find out how to protect your personal data and avoid identity fraud.
The type of fraud that people fear the most is the use of their personal details to commit identity fraud, according to a March 2013 poll by CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service.
When asked ‘what kind of fraud are you most frightened of falling victim to?’ respondents were given a choice of the three responses below. From over 300 individual responses, a clear ‘most feared fraud’ was identified.

69% - Having your personal details used to impersonate you
21% - Having someone take money from an existing account
10% - Being duped into using your bank account frequently

Impersonation could involve a fraudster using an individual’s identity details to open bank accounts, obtain credit cards or loans, order goods in their name, take out mobile phone contracts or even to obtain genuine documents, such as passports and driving licences, in their name.

In many cases, people don’t even know they’ve been victim to identity fraud until they receive bills or invoices for things they haven’t ordered, or when they receive letters from debt collectors for debts they didn’t incur.

Not only is there the immediate financial impact to deal with, this kind of fraud can be time consuming and stressful to sort out. In March this year at the time of the poll results being released, CIFAS’ Communications Manager, Richard Hurley, commented that victims of impersonation often feel violated as a result of their personal details being stolen, and the poll results reflected this.

In an age where we are online most days, we are revealing more information about our personal lives than ever before. Through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, many people openly share private information such as their full names, birthdays and email addresses. It’s important to be aware that fraudsters can use these details to build a picture of an individual’s identity.

So what can you do?

To help to protect you from the risk of identity fraud, take preventative steps by choosing strong passwords, don’t write them down, limit the personal details you publish on social networking sites, password protect smartphones and digital devices, and always shred or destroy documents that contain personal information before throwing them away.

Another option is to sign up to an identity theft protection service to regularly monitor your credit profile. PrivacyGuard membership provides you with a range of services that can help you catch the early signs of identity fraud. You’ll have constant online access to your credit report and you’ll also receive alerts via SMS or email to let you know about any significant changes to your credit profile.

How Credit Profile Monitoring Could Help You Stay In Control of Your Financial Life

noreply@blogger.com (Affinion International) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:37:00 +0000

We'll alert you to a wide range of changes to your credit profile
PrivacyGuard members are covered by our Credit Profile Monitoring Service.This means we're able to watch over your financial details and we'll alert if any of the following changes take place:
A search is made on your credit profile
These may be made by organisations such as banks, mortgage lenders, hire purchase companies or mobile phone companies who are checking your credit history and score, so as to make a decision on whether to lend you money or extend credit. They have to have your permission to do this.

New accounts are opened in your name

It may be a legitimate account opened by you. However, we alert you to this activity in case your identity has been compromised and this account has been opened fraudulently in your name.

A significant balance change on any of your credit accounts
We will notify you if there has been an increase in the amount you owe on one of your credit accounts

Any dormant accounts being reactivated
A dormant account is one that is in your name but has been inactive for fifteen years or more. An account can only be activated by you, the original account holder, or a designated legal representative. Cyber criminals can access an old address and match it to an account.

County Court Judgments (CCJs) recorded against you

A County Court Judgement against you in this context means that debts have been accumulated in your name and the company ‘you’ owe money to has sought redress through the courts. This may have been recorded against unpaid debts that have been fraudulently accumulated in your name.

If this has happened to you need to take it seriously, as a CCJ against you will have a very negative impact on your credit rating. It can take some time to prove that these are not your debts and clear your name from the court records. PrivacyGuard can help reinstate your credit reference.

Notice Of Correction
A Notice of Correction is an explanatory statement that an individual can add to their Credit Report. It is attached to an item of data and is usually used to explain circumstances surrounding an entry on the report. Once the statement is added it will be seen by any company who makes a search and sees the entry to which it relates.

An account being settled or closed
This is where you have repaid your credit. Settled accounts are kept on your report for six years from the date when the account was settled.

Six of The Most Common Types of Identity Fraud

noreply@blogger.com (Affinion International) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:34:00 +0000

Find out how to spot a fraud attempt
Fraudsters use a wide range of methods and it can be difficult to keep track of them all, so we’ve put together this handy list to help you:

1. Application Fraud Account Takeover
This refers to a fraudster applying for a new bank account or credit card in your name.

2. Mail non-receipt card fraud
When a card you have ordered isn't received, but is intercepted by thieves who then use your name fraudulently.

3. ‘Phishing’ email fraud
Carried out by criminals who direct unsuspecting people to seemingly legitimate sites where they’re then asked to share their personal information.

4. Online Shopping Fraud
Anyone can set up a shop online and then take advantage of trusting shoppers, as they give over account information as well as address details and other personal information.

5. Keylogging
This is the practice of releasing undetectable software, known as spyware, onto your computer. This software can track what you type on your keyboard, which means that when you enter passwords or other private details a fraudster maybe able to follow what you’re doing.

6. Scamming
Scammers are people who try to get you to invest in their scheme, only to disappear and offer you no payback for what you have given them - whether it be time, money or information. Sometimes these scams can string along the ‘victim’ for years with promises of future rewards. Be suspicious of anyone offering you anything, from free holidays and easy to win prize draws, to online correspondence from your ‘bank’.

One of the best ways to spot this type of fraud is to check your credit report for any unusual activity. And remember, PrivacyGuard membership offers both online access to your credit report as well as an alerts service, helping protect you from fraud and identity theft attempts.

Which Crime Connects Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods and Will Smith?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:10:00 +0000

Did you know that Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods and Will Smith have all been victims of the same crime?

Identity theft is an increasingly common crime and some audacious thieves even choose to target the most high-profile celebrities on the planet. Yes, you’ve guessed it - Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods and Will Smith have all been victims of identity theft.

As detailed by ESPN Tiger Woods was targeted by a man called Anthony Lemar Taylor. The fraudster got hold of the golfer’s social security number and date of birth. Then, using Tiger’s real name, Eldrick T. Woods, Taylor was able to successfully use all the data he’d collected to get a drivers license. With the licence Taylor was then able to apply for credit cards.

The thief then used the cards to fund a shopping spree, splashing out around $17,000 on a luxury car, a 70-inch TV and more. The fraudster was finally caught, and due to California’s three strike law was sentenced to serve the next 200 years or life (whichever comes sooner) in prison.

This story from the BBC describes how Oprah Winfrey was targeted by a 32 year-old New Yorker called Abraham Abdallah. During the day Abdallah worked a low-paid dishwasher in a Brooklyn restaurant, but in his free time he was busy gathering personal data about Oprah and over 200 other high net worth individuals, including Stephen Spielberg and Warren Buffet.

When the fraudster was finally arrested in 2001 he was in possession of over 800 fraudulent credit cards and had access to billions of dollars. Abdallah used the internet, his mobile phone and a Forbes magazine containing a list of the 400 richest people in the world to stalk his victims.

He then used a library computer to withdraw money from brokerage accounts and apply for credit using all the fake identities he’d assumed. In the end greed was Abdallah’s downfall as his attempt to transfer $10 million from the Merrill Lynch account of one of his victims alerted authorities to his activities.

And this article in People describes how rapper turned actor Will Smith had his identity stolen by Carlos Lomax, a 45 year-old man from with a penchant for targeting the rich and famous.

Lomax was already on probation due to an earlier identity-theft conviction involving former Atlanta Hawks basketball player Steve Smith when he decided to target Will Smith. He opened 14 bogus credit accounts in shops in the Pittsburgh area using the actor’s legal name Willard C. Smith and charged nearly $33,000 on the accounts before he was caught and sentenced to a further two years in prison.

These tales of celebrity identity theft help to demonstrate no matter who you are or how carefully you might protect and manage your money and accounts you can still become a victim. That’s because fraudsters go to great lengths to ensure they keep their activities hidden.

Joining PrivacyGuard gives you a range of options that can help you catch the early signs of identity theft. You’ll have constant online access to your credit report so you can check your details whenever you choose. You’ll also receive alerts via SMS or email to let you know about any credit searches or new accounts appearing on your credit report.

Handy Tips That Could Help You Protect Against Identity Theft

noreply@blogger.com (Affinion International) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:27:00 +0000

Handy tips to help you stay safe at home, online and out and about

Identity theft has become such a serious problem that a group of organisations including the government and the police have joined forces to create the invaluable advice and information site www.identitytheft.org.uk. We’ve listed some of their key recommendations here:

General security checks

Study your bank statements in detail for any transactions or new payment arrangements you don’t recognise.
Check your credit report. If there’s anything you don’t recognise make sure you check it thoroughly to ensure it’s not a fraudulent account.
When you move always redirect your mail.

On the phone

Never give out your personal details over the phone to anyone claiming to be from a bank, shop, or company even if you have had previous dealings with them.

Over the internet

Never respond to emails asking for personal information.
Never respond to emails offering ‘make money’ schemes, free holidays, prizes etc.
Always use reputable and recognisable shopping websites for online purchases.
Arrange with your bank to have a security check alert appear before you make online payments .
Use different passwords for every site you join. This will make it much harder for hackers to access your bank account.

Dealing with documents

Always shred mail with your financial details on such as bank and credit card statements, till receipts and old chequebooks.
It’s also a good idea to shred anything with your name and address on it, even junk mail.
Avoid carrying important documents such as utility bills, your passport or birth certificate around with you unless absolutely necessary.

When you’re out and about

Keep your wallet out of sight.
Memorise your pin numbers, if you do have to write them down keep them amongst other random numbers.
Whether you’re at a cash point or paying using your card in a shop make sure no-one can see your pin number.

Your Guide To Checking and Improving Your Credit Report

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:06:00 +0000

Our top tips could help you improve your credit profile

It’s important to check your Credit Report carefully to make sure there are no errors. Here are the main points to look out for:

It’s vital that your Credit Report shows that you’re registered on the Electoral Roll at your current address.
If you’re not registered to vote, if you’re registered at an old address or if the Electoral Roll has any incorrect details listed about you may be refused credit.
Make sure that all regular payments, such as utility bills or debt repayments are registered correctly to your name and current address.
Check for any other mistakes on your file, such as accounts you thought you’d closed that are still open, or any new financial arrangements you don’t recognise.
Try and minimise the amount credit you have available to you, as this can sound a note of caution to potential lenders. Contact your credit card providers and ask them to reduce your credit limits.

If you’re concerned about your ability to repay any debts you have it’s important to be proactive as missed payments will have a negative impact on your Credit Report:

If you’re finding things difficult contact the lender or lenders concerned and talk to them honestly about your situation.
Most companies prefer that you continue to make payments to them rather than defaulting, so negotiate smaller payment amounts.
If you would like help and support with these negotiations try speaking to your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau, a charity which helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice.

It’s also worth considering the types of credit applications you’re making and how frequently, as going about it the wrong way can have a negative impact on your Credit Report:

Only apply for credit you’re likely to get. The fewer failed applications on your file, the better.
Don't make too many credit applications in a short space of time as lenders are more likely to feel nervous about you.

If you’ve never had any credit agreements it could count against you as potential lenders have no way to assess whether or not you’re going to be a responsible borrower. You could consider developing a well-managed credit history in the following way:

Take out a credit card at a low interest rate.
Spend relatively small amounts on it every month. Perhaps consider making it the card you always use to buy your food or your petrol.
It’s crucial to then pay off the outstanding balance on time every month to ensure you’re not being charged interest.
Keep up the cycle of expenditure and on time payments for at least six months.