RESOURCES

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Websites

Home Office Identity Theft
www.identity-theft.org.uk
A website offering advice on how to protect yourself from identity theft and other advice such as where to get a copy of your personal credit file, tips on passwords and general safe procedures to reduce your risk.

Fraud Reduction
www.uk-fraud.info
Advice for individuals and businesses on how to recognise fraud, how to avoid it through preventative measures, and how to respond to suspected frauds.

National Anti-Fraud Network
www.nafn.gov.uk
Anti-fraud information exchange tools including the ability to report scams online as well as a raft of anti-fraud resources.  Funded by voluntary contributions from local authorities there is also a dedicated London organisation, the London Team Against Fraud.

Financial Services Authority
www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer
Information on recent scams and swindles, including ‘phishing’ where criminals try to hook potential victims from a sea of internet users

Fraudweb
www.fraudweb.co.uk
Designed by anti-fraud practitioners for anti-fraud practitioners in the UK Public Sector.  Free to subscribers, it includes all the latest fraud-related news stories.

Identity Theft: Do you know the signs
www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/publications1.html
The Fraud Advisory Panel’s report, which can be downloaded free here, provides guidance to businesses and individuals on detection, prevention, and dealing with a fraud once it has happened.

Card Watch
www.cardwatch.org.uk
The UK banking industry's body that works with police, retailers and organisations including Crimestoppers to fight plastic card fraud.

CIFAS
www.cifas.org.uk
A fraud prevention service set up by the credit industry. The website includes detailed guidance on protecting yourself against identity fraud.

'419' Scam
www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/419.htm
Metropolitan Police site specifically about the West African/Nigerian ‘419’ scam which involves requests to help move large sums of money.

This is Money
www.thisismoney.com/20040418/si77050.html
Report on bogus banks, including a list of what to look out for.

Identity fraud: Who's being you?
www.accountancyage.com/Features/1132708
Feature from AccountancyAge.com about the growing problem of identity theft, including examples of the methods used by the fraudsters.

Protecting your good name
www.moneyextra.com/features/
Moneyextra feature about identity crime, with information about the extent of the problem and simple measures you can take to prevent it, such as taking care when you throw away papers away containing personal information.

4Money
www.channel4.com/search/index.jsp
Article on Channel 4’s money site on how to avoid being the victim of credit card fraud.

Crimestoppers
www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Tel: 0800 555 111
Enables anyone who wishes to remain anonymous pass information to the police about criminal activity.

Reading

Your Evil Twin: Behind the identity theft epidemic
by Bob Sullivan (John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2004)
The crime of the twenty-first century doesn't discriminate: ID theft has hit ordinary citizens and celebrities alike, from Oprah Winfrey to Steven Spielberg, and costs the economy billions a year. This exploding crime is covered from every possible angle.

Identity Theft: What it is, how to prevent it
and what to do if it happens to you
by Rob Hamadi (Fusion Press, October 2004)
From cashpoint fraud to credit card cloning; from the rubbish left in bins to online identity theft, Hamadi looks at how and why we demonstrate our identity in today's society and shows how these are open to abuse. There is also a 'toolkit' for victims of this crime with advice and information on how to repair the damage that has been done.

Net Crimes and Misdemeanors
by J Hitchcock (CyberAge Books, 2002)
Offers advice for staying safe on the Internet, covering topics such as Internet adoptions, spam, urban legends, cyberstalking, identity theft, data encryption, and online banking.

Identity Theft: Prevention and victim assistance
by the Credit Reporting Agency
(Credit Reporting Agency, 2004)
Specifically written for the UK this is a guide to reducing the risks of falling victim to identity theft, including common examples of how identity thieves work, how to spot the warning signs, simple tips on how to avoid becoming a victim, and a 20-point victim assistance guide with specimen letters and comprehensive contact details.

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