Recover your identity after someone uses it for fraud

This guide is for anyone in the UK who has discovered that someone has used their personal details to open accounts, take out credit, redirect post, take over online accounts or claim money in their name. Identity fraud is frightening and the clean-up is spread across many organisations, so people often fix the obvious problem and miss the rest. Working through the steps in order, you will close the doors the fraudsters used, find and dispute everything taken out in your name, and get written confirmation that you are not liable. You will also finish with a fraud log that protects you if the problem resurfaces months later.

What is inside

• Full step-by-step method9 detailed steps with decision points
• Ready-to-use templatesLetter to a lender about a fraudulent account · Fraud recovery log · Phone script for a lender's fraud team
• Timed action plan8 stages from “First hour” to “Months 3–12”
• Costly mistakes to avoid4 traps and what to do instead
• Complete checklist12 items to tick off
• Insider tips and fixes4 tips and 4 common problems solved

Step by step

1. Triage in the first hour

   Write down what you know: what alerted you, the date, and which organisations are involved. If money has left your bank account or a card has been used, call your bank's fraud line first, using the number on the back of your card or by dialling 159, which connects you to many UK banks' fraud teams. If your mobile has suddenly lost signal and shows 'SOS only' or 'no service' while others nearby have signal, your number may have been transferred to a fraudster's SIM, so contact your network from another phone straight away. If someone is threatening you or you are in danger, call 999. Do not reply to any messages from the fraudsters or anyone claiming to be 'recovering' your money for a fee.