How To Protect Yourself From Identity Fraudsters

Your consumer rights champion

- MARTYN JAMES

Every week I’m contacted by readers who tell me that they’ve been the victims of identity theft.

So I’ve teamed up with my fellow TV expert and technology expert, David McClelland (davidmcclelland.co.uk) to help you understand and avoid identity theft scams.

What is identity theft and how does it occur?

Identity theft occurs when fraudsters manage to get enough information about you to impersonate you. This might be applying for a credit card in your name or hijacking your bank account.

As David tells me: “The most frightening thing for many identity theft victims is that by the time they find out their identity has been stolen or cloned it may feel like it’s too late to do very much about it”.

But don’t worry – often there is a solution if you act when you discover the fraud.

Frustratingly, data breaches are one of the most common ways ID theft occurs.