You may become a victim of identity theft if:

you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence

post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all

You may already be a victim of identity theft if:

you identify entries on your personal credit file from organisations you do not normally deal with

items have appeared on your bank or credit-card statements that you do not recognise

you applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming

you receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven’t asked for

you have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history

a mobile-phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge

you have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours

financial institutions that you do not normally deal with contact you to chase an outstanding debt.

Protecting Yourself

Criminals commit identity theft by stealing your personal information. This is often done by taking documents from your rubbish or by making contact with you and pretending to be from a legitimate organisation.

Identity theft can result in fraud affecting your personal financial circumstances, as well as costing government and financial services millions of pounds a year. If your identity is stolen, you may have difficulty getting loans, credit cards or a mortgage until the matter is sorted out.

The following tips will help you protect your identity and prevent criminals from committing fraud in your name:

Keep your personal information secure

Your identity and personal information are valuable assets. Keep them secure.

Regularly obtain a copy of your personal credit file to see which financial organisations have accessed your details. It is particularly helpful to check your personal credit file 2-3 months after you have moved house.

Be extra careful if you live in a property where other people could have access to your mail. In some cases a bank or credit card company could arrange for you to collect valuable items such as new plastic cards or cheque books from a local branch.

If you suspect your mail is being stolen, contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Line: 08457 740 740. Check whether a mail redirection order has been made in your name without your knowledge.

If you move house, tell your bank, card issuer and all other organisations that you deal with immediately. Ask the Royal Mail to redirect any mail from your old address to your new one for at least a year.

Consider using the Mailing Preference Service to limit the amount of unwanted mail you receive.

Keep all your plastic cards safe

If your plastic cards are lost or stolen, cancel them immediately. Keep a note of the emergency numbers you should call.

When giving your card details or personal information over the phone, Internet or in a shop, make sure other people cannot hear or see your personal information.

Never carry documents or plastic cards unnecessarily. When not in use keep them in a safe place.

Keep your documents safe

Keep your personal documents in a safe place, preferably in a lockable drawer or cabinet at home. Consider storing valuable financial documents such as share certificates with your bank.

If your passport or driving licence has been lost or stolen contact the issuing organisation immediately.

Don't throw away entire bills, receipts, credit-or debit-card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder.

Check statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed, contact the company concerned immediately.