Identity theft is when your personal details are stolen and identity fraud is when those details are used to commit fraud.
What you do if you’ve been a victim of identity fraud
•Act quickly – you mustn’t ignore the problem. Even though you didn’t order those goods or open that bank account, the bad debts will end up under your name and address.
•If you believe you’re a victim of identity fraud involving plastic cards (e.g. credit and debit cards), online banking or cheques, you must report it to your bank as soon as possible. Your bank will then be responsible for investigating the issue and they will report any case of criminal activity to the police. The police will then record your case and decide whether to carry out follow-up investigations.
•If you think you’re a victim of another kind of identity fraud, you must report the matter to the relevant organization. Depending on their advice, you should then alert your local police force.
•You should report all lost or stolen documents – such as passports, driving licences, plastic cards, cheque books – to the relevant organization.
