With the effects of identity fraud being so widespread, it’s important to do whatever you can to protect yourself.
The most important actions you can take are:
- Check your credit score and report regularly
If someone opens up a credit account in your name, it will show up on your credit report. You can use your ClearScore account to keep an eye on any changes, and we’ll message you a notification when your report updates (unless you’ve unsubscribed from these). Be sure to check through your report for anything that you don’t recognise.
- Make sure your mail gets to you
If you’re moving house, make sure you redirect your mail to your new address so it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Limit the information sent to you by utilising online statements, online payslips, direct deposits, and online banking. Opt-out of offers from your bank wherever possible, as these letters can include information that is useful to fraudsters if intercepted.
- Shred your documents
It’s best practice to shred your utility bills, bank statements, and any other documents with personally identifiable information on them before you dispose of them.
Other helpful security tips include:
- Keeping your social media private
A hacker starts with three pieces of information to steal your identity - your name, address, and date of birth. Keep your online accounts private wherever possible. You can often change your visibility to other users of the services in your settings page. Don’t share your birthdays or other information publicly.
- Check your bank statements
Check your bank statements regularly and if you spot any suspicious transactions, report them to your provider immediately. If your bank spots fraud on your account, call them as soon as you can.
- Use a combination of strong passwords that are different for every site
Make sure you have different passwords for different accounts. A strong password contains a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. You can find more information about this in our article.
If you find it difficult to remember so many complex passwords, we’d recommend using a password manager.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your important accounts
If your account is only protected by a password, it’s at a higher risk of being stolen. Two-factor authentication adds another layer of protection. Don’t forget to enable this on your ClearScore account too.
- Be wary when opening emails or answering phone calls
If you’re even a little unsure about something, don’t reply or click on any links in the email. Search for that company’s contact details and get in touch with them this way, rather than replying to the email. The same goes for phone calls. You can read more about this in our FAQ.