Help - am I being scammed?

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 5:35 pm

I have been sent a bunch of letters from various companies that say I have applied for a credit card but I havent applied for any.

Tried phoning a few to see what was going on most were not able to help or was told to contact the fraud dept on Monday. One said it was applied for online.

Any advice?

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:15 pm

Fraud! You need to cancel these cards.

tenkfeet · Post by **tenkfeet** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 6:19 pm

You can check your credit record to see if anything has gone on . Its free if you use the free trial then cancel.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/bankin ... core#check

Dominic · Post by **Dominic** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 10:49 pm

I would phone your bank ASAP & request they contact you if any monies are taken from your account.

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:09 pm

Wouldnt worry too much about your own bank account..

It does sound like Identity Theft though.

I'd file a police report tomorrow morning just so they are aware of it - this means that if anything is to happen then you have a time line to go back on - and means you wont get lumped with big bills to pay that aren't yours...

Obv get the card companies etc to cancel the cards straight away! Unfortunately your credit report (http://www.experian.com is the best one to use) will only tell you things that have already happened i.e what you already owe money wise and what you have already applied for.... It wont stop whoevers doing it do it again!

From bank experience ID theft is a tricky one for the police - and they never seem to be able to help the "victims" that i have spoken to.

**Also - fraudsters usually mark a seperate mailing address on applications - so that i.e if it was a credit card, the card would get sent to them rather than your home. So get the companys to confirm the addresses used. And if there is no difference this usually means they are able to intercept your post to get their hands on it..... Remember anything applied for needs a credit agreement signed first, so you will always be able to prove you never done it**

Post by **pete** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:49 pm

Mitchell and Webb on identity theft.

Funny as a funny thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS9ptA3Ya9E

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:48 am

Phoned all the companies this morning, no cards have been approved. All were applied for online and an incorrect date of birth flagged it up as probably a scam. The bigger companies had already put a marker against my name so that any other applications for cards are refused and so that my credit score isnt buggered. They are sending me info on what has happened and what will be done to sort it.
Applied for a credit check with Experian to check that I have got them all.

Checked with Royal Mail to make sure no mail is being redirected.
Checked with bank and my credit card that nothing has been touched

Reported it to the police but they can only do something if a card has been obtained.

Cheers for advice everyone.

jj · Post by jj » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:57 am

Is this one of those scams when the pikey mofos go through your rubbish to get your details?

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:59 am

jj wrote:Is this one of those scams when the pikey mofos go through your rubbish to get your details?

Good chance, a mate of my old mans looked out his window one morning to see some pikey's stealing everyones rubbish out the bins.

It was not the binman or binperson as they are probably called nowadays before anyone starts.

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:02 pm

kenny wrote:
Reported it to the police but they can only do something if a card has been obtained.

So, from that, you must assume that applying for credit cards in other peoples names is not a crime?

Dont you just love UK law

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:03 pm

The Police seemed to think that was the most likely source of my details. Bloke recommended getting a shredder as they will be going through everything in your bins.

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:00 pm

BiggestNizzy wrote:It was not the binman or binperson as they are probably called nowadays before anyone starts.

Council Refuse Collector