A not-for-profit UK register has been set up to guard your identity if your property is burgled.
If your house was burgled or your bag or wallet was stolen in the street, how would you feel if you discovered that the effects of this robbery were still being felt months later - through your bank as a result of identity fraud?
There are many products available on the market for those whose identity has been compromised in such circumstances. But what can be done before your identity is stolen?
Protective Registration is a service offered by CIFAS (UK Fraud Prevention Service), a not-for-profit organisation that helps protect those whose identity is at risk due to crime. For an administration fee of £14.10 this protects your name and address from further misuse.
How does protective registration work?
When you request registration, a CIFAS warning flag is placed against your address indicating that you have been recorded on the fraud prevention database at your own request. Therefore, when you apply for credit, insurance or other products such as mobile phone contracts, this warning flag will be seen by the product/service provider (the CIFAS Member - such as a bank, building society or insurance provider).
The Member is prompted to undertake additional verification checks to establish that the application is genuinely from you and not from a fraudster. This may mean that you personally experience delays while your credentials are fully checked - a small price to pay for your peace of mind. Key facts:
• CIFAS has 270 Member organisations spread across banking, credit cards, asset finance, retail credit, mail order, insurance, investment management, telecommunications, factoring, and share dealing.
• Members share information about identified frauds in the fight to prevent further fraud. CIFAS is unique and was the first data sharing scheme of its type in the world.
• In 2007, 12,613 CIFAS Protective Registrations were filed: an increase of 154% on the previous year.
For further information visit www.cifas.org.uk
