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As part of National Identity Fraud week, Mike Hancock, MP for Portsmouth
South, has urged constituents not to hand their identity over on a plate to
fraudsters. He is also calling on the Government to take greater steps to
highlight the steps people can take to protect themselves and also to do
more to detect and prosecute criminals that commit identity fraud.
Mike has urged local people to take some simple steps (at the bottom of this
press release) that can help safeguard their personal details and visit the
campaign website at www.stop-idfraud.co.uk <http://www.stop-idfraud.co.uk/>
where they can download a free guide to protecting themselves.
Mike’s call comes as an independent pan-European market research,
commissioned by Fellowes for National Identity Fraud Prevention Week,
reveals that Britain suffers one of Europe’s highest rates of identity
fraud. The survey revealed that 4.3 million adults have already fallen
victim to identity fraud. But roughly two in three (64%) of people in
Britain do not understand how to best protect themselves. And Government
figures show that identity fraud costs the economy more than £1 billion
annually
This awareness drive has been put in place by an expert group of public and
private sector partners, and is being supported by Mike Hancock MP, the
BBC’s Adrian Chiles (who is fronting this year’s campaign) the Association
of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Metropolitan Police, the Home Office’s
Identity and Passport Service, Royal Mail, CIFAS – The UK’s Fraud Prevention
Service, Fellowes, CallCredit, Equifax, Experian, the Federation of Small
Businesses, the British Retail Consortium, the Serious Organised Crime
Agency (SOCA), and regional police forces.
However there is a high awareness of the problem. The UK boasts the highest
awareness rates in Europe – 99% of adults surveyed claimed to be aware of
identity fraud and 95% realise that we are all at risk.
Mike Hancock commented: “I am pressing the Government to take more action on
getting the police and other authorities to detect and prosecute those who
perpetrate identity fraud. Often this has an international element, so the
authorities of all countries must also co-operate across national borders to
combat these criminals and the British Government should take a lead in
that.”
“There are some relatively simple steps can help people guard against
falling victim to identity fraud. People need to realise that their personal
details can be the “keys” to their bank account and credit cards. Just as
you wouldn’t leave your keys in your front door or your car, so people
should be careful when giving out their personal details.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
Steps the public can take to protect themselves include:
• Keep your personal and confidential documents secure
• Regularly check your bank and credit card accounts for unusual
transactions
• Regularly obtain a copy of your credit report from credit reference
agencies Callcredit, Equifax or Experian, and monitor it for discrepancies
• When you move home, redirect your mail from your old address to your new
address for at least a year. You can now apply online 24/7, visit:
www.royalmail.com/redirection for more information
• Always shred before disposing of documentation – bank and credit card
statements, utility bills, receipts, direct mail containing any personal
information, mortgage applications etc
• Going away? If you're planning to be away from home, you’ll want to make
sure you don’t leave any obvious clues, like a pile of mail on your doormat,
contact Royal Mail about their 'Keepsafe' service which will hold your mail
for up to two months, and deliver it on your return. For more information
visit www.royalmail.com
• Regularly check your bank and credit card accounts for unusual
transactions
• Never give out any personal information to unidentified individuals or
organisations who contact you by phone, email or face-to-face
• Visit www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/ for information on different types of
fraud.
• Never respond to e-mails asking for personal or financial information. Be
especially careful when sending personal information over the internet.
• If you receive an email that warns, with little or no notice, that an
account will be shut down unless you reconfirm billing or security
information, you should not reply or click on the link in the email.
Instead, contact the institution cited in the email using a telephone number
or web site address you know to be genuine.
• Use up-to-date anti-virus software and a personal firewall and, if your
computer uses the Microsoft Windows operating system, keep it updated from
the Microsoft website. Be extra careful if using Internet cafes or any PC
which is not your own and over which you have no control. If in doubt, a
good place to get help and guidance on how to stay safe online is your
bank's website. Check regularly for specific information and guidance on
protecting your PC and yourself online.
• Avoid emailing personal and financial information. Before submitting
financial information through a web site, look for the ‘lock’ icon on the
browser's status bar. It signals that personal information is secure during
transmission.
• Never give personal information to people calling from companies you have
not dealt with before. Always check the identity of these people by calling
them back. Obtain their office number from directory enquiries and then
confirm their position with the switchboard before speaking to them
• If you have been a victim of identity fraud involving the use of plastic
cards, online banking or cheques, the matter should be reported direct to
the financial institution concerned. They will then be responsible for
further investigation and, where appropriate, onward reporting to the
police. Other incidents should be reported to the relevant organisation and,
dependent on their advice, to your local police station
The official campaign website can be accessed at: www.stop-idfraud.co.uk
<http://www.stop-idfraud.co.uk/> |
