FRAUD ON FOREIGN LAND
MyEquifax.co.uk warns consumers to keep their personal information safe whilst abroad
Total fraud committed abroad on UK issued cards during 2004 was £92.5 million. MyEquifax.co.uk, the instant online credit information provider, is urging holiday makers to be vigilant at all times and to ensure bank cards and personal information, such as passports are kept in a safe and secure place.
Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director of Equifax advises, “When going on holiday, people normally carry around their passport, driving licence, credit cards and other identification documents all of which are key to stealing someone’s identity. To make it worse, holiday makers are often distracted through reading a book, listening to music or sleeping providing an ideal chance for fraudsters.”
64.8 million visits were made abroad by UK consumers in 2004, each visit provided a perfect opportunity for fraudsters to obtain personal information. The criminals might even be waiting for their next victim at the airport. Luggage tags with address and contact details are easily visible to prying eyes. Fraudsters could easily make a note of the address and target the home as they know it will be empty in the foreseeable future.
Consumers using credit cards abroad, should exercise the same caution as they would while at home in the UK. Never let restaurant, hotel and shop staff go out of sight with the card. Be wary carrying around your credit cards and passport when drinking and dining. Leave as much at the hotel in a security box or safe as possible.
Munroe concludes, “Before you go, tell your credit card provider when and where you are going. If you are worried that personal information has been taken or you have lost personal documents monitor your credit file by subscribing to Equifax Credit WatchTM. This service will alert you as soon as someone attempts to steal your identity or open fraudulent accounts.”
MyEquifax.co.uk Top Tips on How to Avoid Holiday Fraud
- Don’t clearly display your home address on your luggage. Instead use a work address or mobile phone number
- Use work addresses and mobile phone numbers when checking into a hotel
- Keep your identification separate from your bank and credit cards
- Don’t carry around any PIN’s. If you are unsure about remembering them change them before you go at an ATM to something more memorable
- If you are travelling for an extended period, consider using the Royal Mail Poste Restante service so that your post is held safely pending your return
- Keep your personal details such as your passport in the hotel safe at all times
- If you are travelling to many destinations ensure someone you trust in the UK has your passport number in case it is stolen or lost. Don’t carry these details around with you
- Subscribe to an ID monitoring service such as Equifax Credit WatchTM to be alerted to any changes on your credit file as soon as they happen
Equifax Credit Watch™ is available in two levels of service:
Gold Service
- £59.99 a year or £6.50 a month
- First 30 days free for annual subscribers
- Daily alerts on any changes to a consumer’s credit file provided by email and/or SMS
- The changes to the credit file include searches made when a credit application is conducted in an individual’s name, changes to credit account balances, amendments to electoral roll information, the addition of County Court Judgments, etc
- Unlimited copies of an individual’s Equifax Credit ReportTM ensuring that they can fully understand the information that is affecting their credit status
- Interactive facilities already established for the Equifax Credit ReportTM also mean that a consumer can initiate a dispute or query any information on their credit file online, instantly
Silver Service
- £44.99 a year or £5.00 a month
- Alerts consumers on a weekly basis with any changes to their credit file by email
- One free Equifax Credit Report™ when the subscription is started
Both levels of the Equifax Credit Watch™ service provide the consumer with a monthly ‘no news is good news’ message, if there has been no activity.
Instant access is available, online at www.myequifax.co.uk
For just £14.95 consumers can obtain a copy of their Credit Rating, which includes their Credit Report, instantly, online at www.myequifax.co.uk
If you are looking for commentary on this subject, Equifax can provide consumer credit information experts who have extensive experience on this issue.
If you would like to arrange an interview please contact Cecile Stearn, Sarah Samee, Claire Foster or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 or email cecile@harrisonsadler.com
