Home movers are in danger of putting themselves at risk of ID fraud by not redirecting their mail when they move home, according to one of the largest studies in the UK.
The study of more than 12,000 home movers shows the risks individuals are taking with their personal and financial information. Getting your mail redirected is essential to ensure that important documents don’t go to the wrong address.
Data released by the Royal Mail revealed that more than 1 in 10 (15%) home movers said they received over 20 items of mail addressed to a former resident during their first month in their new home. And half (52%) of those said this included financial mail such as bank or credit card statements.
If people moving home don’t take out a Redirection Service or inform all their service providers of their change of address, their mail is likely to end up at their old address. Treat personal data as carefully as you would cash. Fraudsters need only a few pieces of information to begin fraudulent activity.
Yes, there’s a lot to think about when moving home. However it is worth prioritising some simple steps to make sure that what is already a very stressful time doesn’t become even more fraught.
Top tips for home movers
• Set up a redirect for mail for at least a year
• Clearing out old paperwork and financial documents is often a task undertaken when moving. Shred financial and other documents that contain personal information
• If you are disposing of an old computer, or other electronic device that stores data make sure you remove the information from the hard drive
• If regular statements don’t arrive at the new address at the normal time, alert the relevant company immediately
• Check statements carefully for any unauthorised transactions
• Don’t talk about the move on social media sites – unless you’re certain you know exactly who can look at your profile
• Apply for a copy of your credit report to spot any unauthorised activity – and consider a service that monitors for any changes to your credit information
Royal Mail Home Movers Research
Top tips from Equifax
