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"How my identity was stolen"

pile of mail

Has your mail gone missing? Here's a real-life example of how your identity can be stolen from under your nose

It can be difficult to keep track of your post when you live in a block of flats – as Barry found out to his cost.

“The post used to be left lying in the hallway, so anybody could pick up anybody else’s letters,” says Barry. “Just before Christmas, I was getting concerned that I didn’t seem to be getting any post, including several bills that I knew were due. I asked a neighbour if she knew anything but she didn’t so I left it at that.”

On Christmas Eve, Barry received a call from his bank’s fraud investigation branch about a large sum of money that he had deposited in a new account. He explained that he had, indeed, opened an account but had not paid any money into it or used it because he had not yet received his bank card and PIN. Someone else had deposited a fraudulent cheque into the account and promptly spent more than £4,000 before the deception was uncovered.

It was clear that the fraudster had intercepted both the card and the PIN in Barry’s post. Once it was satisfied that Barry was not trying to commit fraud himself, the bank wrote off the loss – but Barry’s troubles had only just started.

The criminal also used his name and address to apply for a credit card, which luckily Barry was able to intercept in the post as it was sent to his address. Then the fraudster opened various store accounts and got several mobile phones on different networks. He ran up unpaid bills on all these accounts, damaging Barry’s credit record as he went.

The local police investigated and found a salesman at one of the mobile phone companies who remembered the man who had bought a phone in Barry’s name. Using his description, a tenant in the same block of flats was arrested and the salesman picked him out in an identity parade.

The police thought the fraudster might be part of a gang, so he was remanded on bail, pending further investigation. Unfortunately, before he could be brought to trial, he fled abroad, to the destination of many of the mobile calls he had made.

“The police have been really helpful and supportive and have said that they are ready to arrest him the minute he steps back on British soil. And there haven’t been any more incidences of fraud in my name,” says a relieved Barry.

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Last updated 21 September 2005