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CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE |
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WARNING –HOAX EMAIL’S (Please scroll down for Identity theft article)
There are currently a number of hoax emails being sent to valid email addresses. The latest hoax involved an authentic looking invitation to ‘verify online banking details’ which purported to come from Barclays Bank PLC. Other hoax emails tempt the recipient to click on a link to reveal details of how to claim a large inheritance, or a scheme to claim money left in a foreign bank account.
Please note that these emails are false, misleading and unauthorised. You should never click onto links included in such emails as doing so indicates to a potential attacker that the email address is valid and exposes the network to further potential attack.
Therefore, the advice to anyone who receives such an email is:
· DO NOT click on the link within the email.
· DO NOT attempt to open the email or any attachments.
· DO NOT forward the email to any other person.
· CLOSE Preview Pane (if open)*
· DELETE THE EMAIL IMMEDIATELY
*If preview pane is active it will open the email to display content and can therefore activate any malicious code contained in the email. The pane can be turned off by selecting View/Reading Pane /Off with the Windows 2003 client or View/Reading Pane in the older windows 2000 client.
Brian Gresty Community Safety |
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Identity Theft
The Home Office is presently highlighting the increased cost of Identity Theft to the population of the U.K. Current estimates put it at £1.9 billion per year or £35 per year for each person in the country.
Identity theft is the term used to describe the process whereby a person steals personal details from an individual and uses that data criminally to obtain loans or credit cards or even mortgages. In some instances the details of company directors have been used to obtain loans in the name of companies.
There are several very simple steps that people can take to reduce or eliminate the risks, the majority of which are commonsense and don’t cost anything. Most of us regularly receive bills and statements through the door. Each contains lots of information that is very useful to the fraudster. It is important to look after this information.
Keep your personal data safe. Don’t carry your pin number on a piece of paper with your card. If you must write it down make it look like a phone number. Make sure that you have signed the back of all your credit cards. If you lose a card cancel it immediately. Waiting until you get home could cost you money! Check your statements regularly. It’s not just single large transactions that a fraudster uses. Smaller regular debits, sometimes as little as £10 per week quickly add up. Don’t disclose personal information over the phone. No bone fide bank or building society will ever ring you up unsolicited and ask you for your account details especially if your password or account numbers or the verification numbers on your credit cards( this is the three digit number on the reverse of your card ). If you think you need to disclose this information ask the person for an extension number and call them back via the companies’ switchboard (get that number from the telephone book). Don’t worry about offending the caller. If they are legitimate they should know better than to ask. Never throw personal data away. Almost any document with your name and address on can be presented as proof of identity to obtain loans etc..Things like bank statements, credit card bills should be destroyed properly not just ripped in half and thrown in the bin. Consider investing in a paper shredder. They are widely available and inexpensive.
On line security is also important if you are using internet banking. Probably one of the most important rules is not to reply to unsolicited e mails that ask for your personal data, especially passwords or account numbers. If you are in any doubt whether an e mail is genuine don’t reply to it.
Passwords
Make sure your passwords are memorable but not obvious. If everyone knows you have a dog called spot then it is not a good idea to use that as a password. Don’t share your password around. You might not tell anyone what is is but can you be so sure about anyone else? Don’t write you password down.
CIFAS (Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System)
Consider registering with the CIFAS protection registration scheme. Registration on this scheme adds an additional layer of protection to your accounts. For instance if anyone was attempting to obtain a loan in your name you would be contacted by CIFAS and asked to verify the application. CIFAS are a commercial organisation and will charge a small fee for this service. CIFAS can be contacted online or by phone (protective.registration@equifax.com or 0870 010 2091)
What to do if you believe you are the victim of identity theft
Contact your Bank or Building Society or Card issuer immediately. Explain why you think this may be the case and follow their advice. You may need to change all of your passwords and PIN codes as soon as you can. The sooner you contact them the less it will cost you! Report the matter to a police officer or at your local police station.
Further advice and information can be found at
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