25 Years On And Identity Theft Still Continues To Be A Threat

Marking the World Wide Web’s 25th Birthday Equifax offers consumer tips to protect themselves against ID fraud

Over the last 25 years, the World Wide Web has given one-click access to shopping, social media and made it simple to source information that could have once been impossible to find. Although undeniably convenient, it has unfortunately also provided the foundation for the development of a whole new class of opportunistic criminals:  identity fraudsters. Equifax, the online credit information provider, is therefore giving consumers tips to protect their personal information, so that they can have many more years of using the internet safely.

For many individuals, shopping and socialising online has become second nature, but this can often come at a cost.   A survey commissioned by Equifax last year,* revealed that only a third (35%) of consumers considered themselves at risk when online and 40% would be happy to  part with their personal information.

“Consumers often forget that over the 25 years that the internet has developed, so have the sophistication of scams and the way fraudsters work,” explained Neil Munroe External Affairs Director, Equifax. “Whilst there are countless benefits to our digital society to celebrate, consumers also need to be alert to the risks of becoming easy prey to the work of identity fraudsters.

“With a stolen identity, fraudsters can use your information to take money out of your accounts, set up bank and other financial accounts.  And this can have a long-term financial and emotional impact.

“Fraudsters can need as little as three pieces of personal data to begin fraudulent activity. They may target consumers in the form of online competitions or deals and discounts to attain their information. And if someone’s email address or mobile number gets in to the wrong hands they could find themselves dealing with phishing scams designed to trick them out of their money.”

“It’s important to understand the value of your private information and take precautions to keep ID fraudsters at bay by only using trusted sites and thinking twice before handing over any information.”

Although impossible to be protected from every single scam, Equifax has provided some tips to help prevent individuals becoming victims to ID fraud.

Equifax also urges consumers to regularly monitor their credit report for any changes to accounts or new accounts they didn’t authorise, and to protect their personal information online with Equifax WebDetect. The 24/7 ID monitoring solution keeps consumers one step ahead of fraudsters by alerting them to potential unauthorised trading of their personal information.

WebDetect is free for customers purchasing their Equifax Credit Report or Credit Score.

The Equifax Credit Report is accessible for 30 days free simply by logging onto www.equifax.co.uk. If customers do not cancel before the end of the 30 Day Free Trial, the service will continue at £9.95 per month, giving them unlimited online access to their credit information and weekly alerts on any changes to their credit file.

Equifax Tips To Protect Against Id Fraud

  • Do not respond to emails and phone calls asking for your bank, credit card or other personal details such as PINs or passwords. Genuine companies will never ask you to provide your bank or credit card details via email or confirm your password or PIN.
  • Make sure you have the latest virus protection that ideally updates hourly and provides your computer with a ‘Firewall’
  • Make sure you log out of all online banking, social networking sites and online shopping accounts rather than just closing the window, especially when you are using a public computer
  • Never store PINS or passwords on mobiles, tablets or smartphones
  • Make sure any mobile, smartphones or tablets are password protected
  • Regularly check credit card and bank statements for unauthorised transactions
  • Regularly check your credit file for any unauthorised applications for credit or new credit accounts

*Equifax Identity Fraud Survey, conducted amongst 928 Equifax Personal Solutions customers, September 2013

For further press information, please contact: Clare Watson, Cecile Stearn, Parm Heer or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or email: equifaxbtocteam@harrisonsadler.com

About Equifax

Equifax is a global leader in consumer, commercial and workforce information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 18 countries and is a member of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index.  Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. For more information, please visit www.equifax.com.

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