It’s very common for people to only realise they’ve been a victim of fraud after credit applications have been taken out in their name or an account has defaulted.
Some common signs to look out for:
Unrecognised transactions on your bank statements - Check your bank statements regularly. If there’s information you don’t recognise, contact your bank as soon as possible. The earlier you spot something that doesn’t look right, the quicker your bank will be able to look into the problem.
Unrecognised accounts on your credit report - Your credit report is updated once a month. If there’s information on your credit report you don't recognise, dispute this with Equifax by using our form. We’ll update you as soon as something changes on your credit report, even if your report is not yet available, so you’re always in control.
You’ve been contacted about goods that you didn’t purchase - If you’ve received items that you didn’t purchase, contact the company immediately. They'll be able to start a fraud investigation. Make sure to contact the company using legitimate details - don’t rely on the contact details they’ve sent you as they might be fraudulent.
Missing mail - If you’re expecting a new bank card and it’s been more longer than the lender said it would be - your mail might have been intercepted or stolen. Contact the bank you ordered from and let them know what’s going on.
Missing documents - If your passport gets lost or stolen, report it to Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) as soon as possible. If your driving license gets lost or stolen, report it to the police and the DVLA.
You can find more information on what you should do if you've been a victim of fraud in our article.