How does a CIFAS warning in my name affect me?

How will I know if I’ve been impersonated?

Identity theft occurs when a fraudster pretends to be you using your personal information to purchase anything or take out a loan in your name. You won’t realize anything is wrong until you receive an invoice for something you didn’t buy, or your credit rating is affected.

What to do if you’ve been impersonated

If you believe that your identity has been stolen, immediately contact the authorities.

Contact the company in question: Contact the company, whether it’s a bank, credit card firm, or something else, where you’ve been a victim of identity theft and inform them about what occurred.

Report it to Action Fraud: Individuals or organizations who have been a victim of identity fraud should report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or via their website.

Get victim support: If you have been a victim of crime, you can get free, expert advice and support from Victim Support. The independent charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales is Victim Support. Learn more about them on their website.

Get extra protection: If you believe that you are at risk of identity fraud or have been a victim, Cifas’ Protective Registration service may be useful as an additional safeguard against fraud in your name.

Report fraudsters: If you know someone committing identity fraud, please notify independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at their website.

Query suspicious mail: Even if the email looks to be from a business, you are familiar with, be wary of unsolicited emails. Don’t open any attachments or click on links in unsolicited emails and never provide personal or financial information. If you get any mail that appears suspicious or suggests you have an account with the sender when you don’t, do not disregard it.

Contact Royal Mail Customer Care on 08457 740 740 or via their website if you believe your mail is being stolen, or a mail redirection application has been made in your name without your consent.

Victim of impersonation marker

Don’t be alarmed if you see ‘Victim of Impersonation’ on your credit report and you have no idea how your identity was stolen (or attempted). It’s very probable that the record was made by a firm to protect you as soon as possible, and that a letter is on its way with an explanation.

If you don’t receive a letter within a week or so, contact the organization that created the record to learn more. Your credit report contains information regarding your alert service, which you may access through the alert service you joined up for.

If you’ve joined up for Cifas’ Protective Registration and subsequently find ‘Victim of Impersonation’ recorded on your credit report, don’t be concerned.

The warning will appear if your entity is one of those captured by Cifas and you are therefore required to validate it. It will remind them that for the application or facility to be genuine, they must take further precautions to ensure that it is real, avoiding future fraud.

For the next 13 months, you will be a “Victim of Impersonation.” After that, for another year and a half, you will be considered a “victim of impersonation” because your ID was stolen. If you think you’ll need additional coverage after that point, our Protection Registration program may be worth looking into.

What to do if a deceased relative is impersonated

If you think a deceased person’s identity might be misused by a scammer, our Protective Registration service may be requested by a relative or executor for the person’s address.  If you’re in need of assistance, why not contact Richardson Lissack.