Warwickshire Trading Standards has received a report that an elderly Warwickshire resident has been targeted by identity thieves.
It is believed that the fraudsters may have used forged utility bills to attempt to have the elderly person's post re-directed to another address from where they could steal it. Had they succeeded, they might then have been able to use his bank statements and other bills to steal his identity and take out loans and mortgages in his name. He might not have been aware of the scam as his post, including correspondence regarding the loan/credit card applications would have been sent to another address. The individual even received a forged letter from 'Royal Mail' designed to put him at his ease.
Checks by Royal Mail helped detect the fraud and no mail was re-directed.
Are you a victim of identify theft? Here are some of the warning signs:
- you have lost or had stolen important documents such as your passport or driving licence
- post expected from your bank has not arrived or you are receiving no post at all
- you identify entries on your personal credit file from organisations you do not normally deal with
- items have appeared on your bank or credit-card statements that you do not recognise
- you applied for a state benefit but are told that you are already claiming
- you receive bills, invoices or receipts addressed to you for goods or services you haven’t asked for
- you have been refused a financial service, such as a credit card or a loan, despite having a good credit history
- a mobile-phone contract has been set up in your name without your knowledge
- you have received letters from solicitors or debt collectors for debts that aren’t yours
- financial institutions that you do not normally deal with contact you to chase an outstanding debt.
For more information on scams visit our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
For help and advice on identity theft, visit: www.identitytheft.org
- The email alert system is a quick, simple and cost effective means by which Warwickshire Trading Standards can alert interested individuals, community organisations, businesses, charities and others to the latest Trading Standards issues/scams etc.
- Please feel free to cascade this information to whom ever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.).
- If you have any information you wish to provide to Warwickshire Trading Standards Service, either for our information, or to appear in future email alerts, please email me.
- To add, amend or remove your details from this email circulation list, again, please email me.
- A list of all the latest email alerts is available on our website: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards
Simon Cripwell
Senior Information Officer
Trading Standards Service
Communities
Warwickshire County Council
tel. 01926 414039
mob. 07771 975570
email. simoncripwell@warwickshire.gov.uk
web. www.warwickshire.gov.uk
My normal working days are Monday to Thursday
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