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A humble Christmas card could make the difference between a joyous Noel and an ID fraud nightmare. Thieves will be out in force this festive season, on the lookout for mail that will help them to hijack your identity.
A valid name and address, a nickname that you might use for a password, details of your children and pets - all the elements of a familiar Christmas greeting could be enough for them to take over your card or bank accounts, borrow money and run up debts in your name.
If your monthly statements, regular catalogues or seasonal loan offers go missing too, the pickings are even richer, so don't assume that the postman has been overwhelmed and they'll turn up later. Take these sensible precautions instead.
Keep your eyes peeled
How many times have you walked past houses where you can see the post hanging out of the mailbox? Opportunist thieves won't hesitate to take whatever they can grab. They will then either be sold on, often via dodgy websites, or used directly to steal the recipient's identity. Make sure nothing stops your post hitting your mat and always collect it as soon as it arrives. You could even put a small sticker on your front door window asking that all mail is properly pushed through.
You and your neighbours can help each other out. If you're expecting a package and you know you won't be there to collect it, ask someone you trust to take it in until you get home. It may even be worth getting together with others on your street to start a neighbourhood watch programme. By exchanging work and holiday schedules you can watch each other's mailboxes - as well as homes - when you're away. You might gain a reduction in your household insurance bill too, as many insurance companies support neighbourhood watch schemes.
Know your billing cycles
Get to know what time of the month you receive utility bills, bank and credit card statements. If they don't arrive promptly, you'll know something's up. Contact your local Post Office and the sender immediately and tell them what's happened. And when you've finished with important documents, shred them before they go in the bin - and that means anything carrying your full name and address, an account reference and even direct mail with your details filled in.
They may be useless to you but they're a gift to crooks who sort through rubbish.
A communal problem
If you live in a building with a communal hallway where all the post is deposited, you might want to consider online billing and payment. Many lenders and utility companies now offer paperless electronic billing and payment, such as direct debit, bank transfers or online card payments.
You will be able to view statements and pay bills online. If you can't get Internet access you could instead arrange to pick up bank statements from your local branch or view them at in-branch ATMs.
Another alternative is having your own lockable mailbox. If your building has a vestibule for post, fix it to the inside wall. If this isn't an option, you could have your own lockable post box fitted to the front door.
Befriend your postman
It's always a good idea to get to know your postie - he or she walks up and down your street every day.
Make sure you ask your local Post Office for a mail holding service if you're going away for more than a couple of weeks. You can pick it up or ask for it to be delivered on your return.
If you change address, you should also ask the Post Office for a mail redirection service for at least a year - it can take a long time for your change-of-address letters to filter through to the relevant people and some always slip the net.
Monitor your credit report
Research by CIFAS, the UK's fraud prevention service, shows that it takes more than 15 months on average before people realise that they have become the victim of an ID fraudster - and by then, bills have been run up in their names and their credit status has been wrecked.
One simple way to spot problems before they have a chance to escalate is to monitor your credit report regularly. This is the personal history of your credit cards, loans, mortgage and other credit accounts, your repayment record, new applications for credit and the amounts you owe, so you can easily identify suspicious entries and query them with the relevant lender.
Monitor your credit rating: To view your personal credit information that lenders are currently basing their credit decisions on, apply now for a free online credit report. Click here for a free 30-day trial and a free copy of your Experian credit report
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