HANDBAG THIEVES CAN STEAL MUCH MORE THAN JUST A WALLET!
Equifax on BBC TV to urge consumers to guard their personal information
London 29th June 2007 – This week’s ‘Don’t get Done, Get Dom’ on BBC TV1 (Friday 29th June, 9.15am) looks at the issue of credit fraud. The programme features the case of a woman whose cheque book was stolen from her handbag and examines the ways a criminal used it to obtain money and goods in her name. Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director of Equifax, the leading online credit information provider, is on the programme highlighting the need for consumers to be more vigilant and providing vital advice on how people can protect their identity.
“Identity theft has always been seen as a victimless crime, but the 50,000 people on the receiving end in 2006 alone, would beg to differ” confirmed Munroe. “It can take many, many hours to rectify a situation after someone has stolen your identity. Yet there are some relatively simple steps to help prevent this happening in the first place.”
A recent Equifax survey showed that it can take over 300 hours of phone calls to correct the problem. However, consumers can do a lot to help or hinder fraudsters as the ‘Don’t Get Done, Get Dom’ programme shows.
Equifax advises everyone to take only absolute essentials out with them and regularly check statements and their credit report for signs of fraudulent activity – ensuring they don’t give fraudsters a helping hand.
To further help in the fight against ID fraud, there are a number of services consumers can sign up to. Equifax’s Credit Watch monitoring service will alert consumers to any fraudulent activity in their name. And if they have already fallen victim to ID fraud they can sign up to the Protective Register. This means that a notice will be placed on their credit file indicating that their personal information has been stolen and that the person making an application for credit may not be the real thing!
EQUIFAX’S TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOUR ID SAFE
|
TOP 10 HAZARDOUS HANDBAG ITEMS!
Equifax ranks the biggest ID Fraud risks in women’s handbags
1. Passport: Combined with a utility bill or receipt, this could give ID thieves access to someone’s bank account as it can not only be used as a form of ID, but also contains lots of personal information including the holder’s full name, address, and date of birth. In addition it also includes the holder’s place of birth which could be used by a fraudster to answer bank security questions.
2. Bank Statements: This would supply ID thieves with information on who an individual banks with, what direct debits they have, recent transactions and their home address. Recent transactions are also often used as security questions.
3. Cheque Book: This would supply ID thieves with account numbers and sort codes. And if the covering slip has not been removed, it will also give the account holder’s home address. Plus, depending on what’s written on the counterfoils, it could also give some useful clues to recent transactions which may help the fraudster get through security questions.
4. Credit Card Receipts: A receipt supplies ID fraudsters with information to get past security questions regarding the last transaction, so combined with card numbers could give them access to the account.
5. Payslip: This could help fraudsters apply for credit as they will have employer and salary details. They could even ring an employer to try to find out additional information.
6. Utility Bill: Utility bills are used to verify an individual’s identity by banks and building societies, plus if the bill is paid by direct debit, this could also help ID thieves by giving them answers to security questions.
7. Driving Licence: This provides valuable information such as your address and date of birth.
8. Mobile Phones: Be careful what you store on your mobile, for instance PIN numbers or account details. A recent Equifax survey found that 29% of women kept a record of their PIN and of those, 30% stored their PIN on their mobile. This is very dangerous if their phone is stolen along with cards.
9. Diary: These often hold personal details which could reveal passwords – such as boyfriends’ names, favourite football team etc. Plus, many people make the mistake of writing down their PIN number in their diary.
10. Gym & other Membership Cards: These could potentially give access to personal information. Fraudsters could call the gym and try to dupe the staff into providing information. For instance, they could ask to check the bank details they have on file for the card holder, and check other information such as addresses.
END
To arrange an interview with Neil Munroe please contact either Claire Foster, Kate Clements, Elinor Puzey or Louise Fowler at HSL on 0208 977 9132 or email claire@harrisonsadler.com
About Equifax
Equifax Inc. is a global leader in information technology that enables and secures global commerce with consumers and businesses. We are one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data. Utilizing our databases, advanced analytics and proprietary enabling technology, we provide real-time answers for our customers. This innovative ability to transform information into intelligence is valued by customers across a wide range of industries and markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax employs approximately 4,600 people in 13 countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax was founded 107 years ago, and today is a member of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX. .
Equifax. Information That Empowers.
