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Protect your identity

Be careful with the things you share online or throw in the bin.

Find out how to keep your identity safe.

 

Identity (ID) theft

Fraudsters want to steal your ID so they can do things like:

  • Use your bank account.
  • Spend your money or move it.
  • Get loans or other finance in your name.
  • Move stolen money in and out of your account.

Keep an eye out for these tell-tale signs of identity theft.

Warning signs of identity theft

Odd payments

Make sure you know all of the payments that go in or out of your bank or credit card account.  

Contact us right away if anything seems wrong. We can then protect your account.

If you act fast after someone steals your identity, you can limit the damage. 

Unexpected post

Fraudsters may use your details to apply for things like a credit card. If you get any letters like this, contact the company who sent it straight away.

For help with stolen letters or to find out how to re-direct your post, contact Royal Mail.

Credit problems

Do you think you have a good credit score, but get refused credit? This can be a warning sign of ID theft.

Our free credit check lets you know your score, what you’re doing well, plus tips on things to work on.

Calls about debt

Another tell-tale sign is when debt collectors or companies call about money you owe for items you haven’t bought.

How to protect your details

Who do you trust online?

Fraudsters hide behind social media accounts, profiles or in chat groups and communities. They’re after your details or to offer things for sale.

Make sure you know and trust someone before you chat, connect or buy anything from them.

Find out how to buy online safely

Share with care

Keep things like your personal and banking details offline and private. And make sure nobody else, like family, friends or followers put anything online or on social media that might be useful to a fraudster.

Only share with people you know and trust. Use your privacy settings for protection. 

Social media platforms also give advice on how to stay safe. 

To post about your work life, create a new account instead of using your personal one.

Are you too quick to click?

Do you ever follow a link or download an attachment without checking it’s safe first?

Fraudsters use emails, texts and social media messages that include links to fake sites or files with a virus.

To see a full email address, tap it on your mobile device or hover your mouse cursor over it. A genuine address usually matches the sender’s name.

Call whoever sent a message to ask if they sent it. Always use a phone number you trust, not one from an email, text or social media post.

A safe way to follow a link is to type it in to the browser bar at the top of your screen.

Secure websites have https:// and a closed padlock image, but they can still be fake. Use a free website, link or email checker online to make sure something is real.

Other ways fraudsters steal and use your details

  • Have fraudsters stolen your details from a website? Find out with a free online service like Have I Been Pwned.

    If fraudsters hack a site you use, change your passwords and security questions. Do this for any other sites that may have your same details.

  • An online quiz or competition can be fun. But fraudsters create them to steal details that set up scams or to guess passwords.

    Before you enter anything like this, make sure it’s genuine. Be suspicious if it asks for banking or private details, or for you to open your social media account.

    To avoid scam messages, you can use a spare email address. And never send money to get a prize you’ve won. This is a common scam.

  • The more fraudsters know about you, the better chance they have of stealing your money. Your details help them to target you with a scam, such as:

    • Getting you to trust them on a scam call.
    • Offering an attractive fake investment.
    • Using a fake dating profile to trick you in a romance scam.

    If you bin anything with your personal or banking details, like a bank statement, it can be valuable to a fraudster.

    Store important documents at home or destroy them. And cut down on things like this by going paper-free.

Help from other organisations

Register with CIFAS

Register with CIFAS to stop fraudsters from using your details to apply for products or services.

 

Visit CIFAS website

Action Fraud

Contact Action Fraud to report a crime or to get general advice.

Go to Action Fraud

Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself

Scam calls

Find out how fraudsters can use your details to win your trust.

Avoid scam calls

Scam emails and texts

Find out how fraudsters try to steal your details.

Avoid scam messages

Protect your devices

Do you know how to keep your devices safe?

Learn about device safety

Protect your passwords

Fraudsters will try to guess passwords to your online accounts.

How to create strong passwords

Investment scams

Fraudsters pretend to be genuine companies and advisers.

Avoid investment scams

Romance scams

Learn how fraudsters with fake profiles just want your money.

How to safely date online

Learn about the latest scams

Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to try to steal your details and money. Discover which scams are common right now.

Go to latest scams

Have you been targeted by fraudsters?

Contact us right away if you think you've been scammed. We can then guide you on what to do next.

Contact us now

Stay scam safe

Find out how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud

Stay scam safe

Find out how to spot and avoid scams, and how to report fraud.

Protect yourself from fraud