Identity Theft is the act of using your personal information without your consent. been exposed to identity theft and the steps you can take to minimise the impact. View the information on your topic of interest below

Identity theft is the act of using your personal data without consent. This may occur online, through email or phone scams, spyware on your computer or even just stolen mail. Fraudsters are usually trying to steal money directly or to set up fake accounts in someone else’s name.

A stolen identity can be used to:

  • Apply for credit
  • Access personal and/or financial details
  • Open bank or utility accounts
  • Open mobile phone accounts
  • Access tax refunds
  • Create fake ID such as driver’s licenses, passports, Medicare cards
  • Steal from bank accounts
  • Demand payments
  • Fraudulently claim government benefits

There are many ways to identify whether you have been a victim of identity theft. Maintaining vigilance of your personal data and online accounts, liaising with your credit provider and working with credit reporting bodies, such as Experian, are just a few.

Here are a few examples of situations that might occur if you have been a victim of Identity Theft:

  • You get an unexpected letter from a bank or the ATO (Australian Taxation Office)
  • You’re denied straightforward credit such as a store card or credit card limit increase
  • You receive emails from legitimate businesses about a purchase you never made
  • Your bank flags a suspicious credit card transaction
  • You start getting calls from collections agencies for credit you know nothing about
  • You stop receiving emails or paper statements for credit cards or bank accounts you hold with financial institutions.

If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft then we have outlined below the steps you should take to resolve the issue:

  1. Determine the type of identity document that was stolen
  2. Obtain a copy of your Credit Report from Australia’s 3 credit reporting bodies (CRBs) Experian, Equifax and Illion
  3. Confirm there is fraudulent activity on your credit report
  4. Notify the police and obtain a police report number
  5. Place a Ban on your Experian credit report
  6. Contact your credit providers directly a raise a fraud investigation
  7. Raise a dispute with your credit provider. Experian may be able to assist in raising a dispute on your behalf with the credit provider – although some may insist you contact them directly so an investigation can be raised with their fraud department
  8. View your Experian Credit Report regularly; you can obtain a free copy of your report every three months by visiting here
     

Helpful resources:

ID Care

Credit Smart