First things first - act quickly
You should report any cases of identity theft to your local police straight away. Make sure you ask for a copy of the police report they create or a reference number. You’ll need to give it to your bank, government agencies and any other company you need to contact.
Tell your bank and lenders
You’ll need to tell your banks, lenders or credit card providers to cancel any cards. You should also get your accounts secured or blocked if this is needed.
Contact ActionFraud
ActionFraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. You can file a report online or talk to their specialists by calling 0300 123 2040. They’ll be able to provide you with assistance on the next steps.
Get in touch with Cifas - the leaders in fraud prevention
Cifas offer a ‘Protective Registration’ service which places a warning on your credit report, alongside your personal details. This will be visible to banks and lenders when you’re applying for a product or service. When banks or lenders see this warning, they’ll use extra security measures to ensure that the application is actually from you, not someone pretending to be you.
Keep an eye on your ClearScore report
We generate your report once a week, but you’ll receive regular daily updates based on changes on your Equifax credit report. By looking through it regularly, you can spot suspicious activity and take action quickly. If you don’t recognise information on your credit report, you can dispute this with Equifax by using our form.
Change the passwords to your online accounts
Change passwords to your online accounts (such as your internet banking, email addresses etc.) straight away to keep your private information safe.
Victim Support is an independent charity that helps anyone affected by crime. They provide free and confidential support 24-hours-a-day, whether you’ve reported the crime to the police or not.
More information on how you can protect yourself from identity theft and how to know if you've been a victim of fraud can be found in our articles.