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Social media and identity theft

Don’t share your details with fraudsters

Social networks have changed the way we connect with people online, but can you really trust who you’re talking to? Fraudsters will go to great lengths to get hold of your information. The more personal information you publish online, the more likely it is that a criminal will misuse it.

Cyber stalking, bullying and identity theft are real- they could happen to anyone. Real friends look out for one another, so limit the amount of information you share about your friends as well as yourself.

Be careful when you share personal information online. Consider who might see it and what could be used to commit fraud or other crimes.

 

Know who you’re connecting with

Only connect with people you know in real life so you know you're only sharing things with those you can trust. Review your privacy settings regulary to help limit access to your online profile.

 

 

Think before you share

Think about what you're saying online; will you regret posting that comment later?

Dont be tempted to publish your date of birth, address, telephone number or location.

 

Avoid revealing photos

Criminals are interested in photos of your possessions and details they can obtain from them. Make sure you don't become a target for a break-in.

What you can do to protect your identity from fraudsters:

  • Use unique passwords for all your online accounts. Make sure they are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess.
  • Just say no. If you receive an unusual request online or over the phone, trust your instincts and check the person’s identity. It’s okay to hang up or not to respond if you’re unsure of who you’re talking to.
  • Check your bank statements. If you notice any unusual transactions, report them immediately.
  • Protect your post. Always collect your post, store important documents somewhere safe and shred anything you don’t need. If you move home, make sure you use the Royal Mail redirection service.
  • Shield your PIN. Beware of “shoulder surfers” looking to steal your PIN. Keep an eye on your cards when making a purchase.
  • Look out for phishing scams. We’ll never send you an email, text or a website link asking you to enter your Internet Banking or card details. Find out more about phishing scams
  • Be careful where you share. Take care when using public computers or free Wi-Fi networks to access your personal or financial information.

Report identity theft

If you think you have fallen victim to online fraud or identity theft, please call us as soon as possible:

0845 3000 116

(or +44 20 7649 9437 from overseas)

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, please call:

TEXTPHONE 0845 300 2280

(or +44 1733 347 515 from overseas)

Lines are open 7am-10pm Mon-Fri

Our online and mobile banking guarantee

We guarantee to refund your money in the unlikely event you experience fraud with our Internet Banking service – as long as you’ve been careful, for example, by taking reasonable steps to keep your security information safe.

Did you know?

  • Criminals can take out loans and credit cards using your name and address
  • It can take time and money to recover your credit rating
  • Criminals can purchase a whole new identity online including driving licences and bank statements
  • The most commonly used password is "Password1"

Important Legal Information

Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority except for lending where we are licensed by The Office of Fair Trading. FSA authorisation can be checked on the FSA’s Register at: www.fsa.gov.uk/register. Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are members of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and the Financial Ombudsman Service. We subscribe to the Lending Code; copies of the Code can be obtained from www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales No. 2065. Lloyds TSB Scotland plc. Registered office: Henry Duncan House, 120 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4LH. Registered in Scotland No. SC95237.

Personalisation. We will always greet you personally using your Title and Surname. We will never use ‘Dear User’ or ‘Dear Valued Customer’. Where you hold an existing account with us, we will quote the last four digits of your account number, such as your current account, savings account or credit card. If you don’t yet have an account with us but we have your postal address details, we may use part of your postcode. Internet Banking-related emails may also include your Internet Banking User ID.

Links. All links within our emails will go to a page on www.lloydstsb.com, or to trusted Government regulatory websites (e.g. Financial Ombudsman, Financial Services Authority, etc). Research emails may take you to a partner research company website but you will not be asked for any Internet Banking log in details. In fraudulent emails, website addresses may appear genuine on first sight, but if you hover your mouse over the link without clicking, it may reveal a different web address. On our genuine emails the link address always starts with email.lloydstsb.com or www.lloydstsb.com. We will never link direct through to our Internet Banking log in page or to a page that asks for your security or personal details.