How to avoid becoming a victim of identity fraud

• Destroy documents, including envelopes and junk mail, before you throw them away.
• Keep important documents safe, for example, passport or driving licence and/or financial policy documents.
• If you change address, get your mail redirected and tell all your financial and other organisations about your change of address immediately.
• If your passport or driving licence has been lost or stolen, contact the relevant organisation straight away.
• If you stop receiving mail, contact the Royal Mail straight away to find out why.
• Check your financial statements regularly and let your bank know straight away if there are any transactions you don’t recognise.
• Be suspicious if you are unexpectedly contacted by telephone, email, post or fax asking for personal information, such as a policy number.
• If you’re a company director, consider using different signatures for your company and personal transactions.
• Make sure your financial services provider has the correct contact details for you.
• Regularly check your personal credit file.
• If your plastic cards are lost or stolen, cancel them immediately.
• Beware of 'phishing scams' – don’t click on email links from product providers or give log-in information for online accounts.
• Don't use the same password for more than one account and never use banking passwords for any other websites.
• Keep your passwords safe and never record or store them in a way that leaves them open to theft, such as in your purse or wallet.