Tips to prevent identity fraud
It’s surprising the damage a fraudster can do with seemingly insignificant information. Taking extra care with your paperwork and how you use the internet can reduce the risks and keep you several steps ahead of the criminals.
Here are some simple steps you can take to protect your identity from fraudsters when you’re…
1. Printing personal documents- Protect your post, and anything you print from the internet, just like you’d protect the contents of your wallet or purse. And if you move home, make sure you use the Royal Mail redirection service.
- Read your statement as soon as you receive it, and report any transactions you don’t recognise.
- Store statements, bills, and confidential letters securely, like you would your valuables.
- We recommend that you stop receiving your bank statements by post and check your accounts online, so criminals can’t intercept your post. Lloyds TSB offers this service to all its customers.
- Shred any personal documents you don’t need.
2. Out and about
- Be wary of ‘shoulder-surfers’ – people behind you in queues at the till or at the cash machine, trying to see you enter your PIN. And when you hand over your card to make an in-store purchase, don’t let it out of your sight.
- Don’t use the ATM if you think it’s been tampered with, and report your suspicions to the bank.
- Keep your wallet, purse, mobile phone, organiser, house keys – any personal effects – out of sight and reach.
3. Online and over the phone
- Use different PIN's and passwords for each account or application, and never tell anyone what they are or give them over the phone. Lloyds TSB would never ask for your full PIN or password.
- Avoid using the ‘auto complete’ option when completing forms online. The software is easy for thieves to access.
- Look out for phishing emails, which appear to come from financial institutions asking you to confirm account details. You can usually report these emails to the financial institutions they claim to come from and help close the net on fraudsters. Lloyds TSB never asks customers to confirm account details by email.
- Update your computer’s anti-virus software and firewall settings regularly.
- Be careful using internet cafés, forums, chat-rooms and social networking sites – fraudsters often use them to try and access personal information.
- Be wary of unsolicited phone calls, emails and visits to your home. With ‘friendly sales calls’, always ask for the caller’s number and verify the company name.
Identity fraud can take effect without you knowing. So don’t let it creep up on you. Use Lloyds TSB PrivacyGuard® to check your credit status, or contact one of the three credit reference agencies directly – Experian, Equifax or CallCredit.
