Identity Theft Check

With Christmas fast approaching, many will now be in the middle of the hectic panic that is Christmas shopping. However whether you are shopping online or visiting your local high street, be sure to remain extra vigilant against the possibility of identity theft.

Below are just a couple of the steps you can take to avoid identity theft:

Shred and destroy unwanted documents
Unfortunately just throwing them in the bin is no longer enough, as the type of people who want to steal your identity will have no qualms in routing through your rubbish! Anything with personal details printed on them, even if you consider it just junk mail, should ideally be properly shredded before throwing away.

Immediately report lost or stolen cards
If you have lost your credit / debit cards or even had it stolen, be sure to ring your bank and have them cancelled immediately. Firstly, criminals will likely try to empty the account as quickly as possible so reporting it as lost/stolen will immediately clarify who has done the spending. Also reporting the card early will make it much harder for criminals to get away with cloning the card for the purpose of identity theft.