Call Sign January 2008 - Page 33 - HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD DaC’s Bernie Silver advises CIFAS
The December Call Sign had a shock article about a Dial-a-Cab driver whose identity had been "stolen" and used to buy a new Mercedes car and then not pay for it. The driver only found out when he tried to buy a taxi and was turned down because the credit reference companies had him down as a bad risk. He still cannot gain acceptance from them… Now DaC driver Bernie Silver (G08) has told this magazine about an organisation he belongs to that assists in fraud detection and helps individuals who have had their ID stolen. "They are called CIFAS and can be contacted on 08700 102 091. It costs Ł11.75 per year to join and is well worth it," Bernie told Call Sign. "It would cost you much more than that if you were caught like that DaC driver!" In 1988, CIFAS was founded as a non-profit membership association solely dedicated to the prevention of financial crime. It provides a range of fraud prevention services to its members, including a fraud avoidance system used by the	UK’s financial services companies, public authorities and other organisations. This system allows members to exchange details of applications for products or services, which are considered to be fraudulent, because the information provided by the applicant fails verification checks. Members can also exchange information about accounts and services, which are being fraudulently misused or insurance and other claims, which are considered to be fraudulent. CIFAS Members also exchange information about innocent victims of fraud to protect them from further fraud. This exchange of information is referred to in a fair processing notice, or use of personal data clause, on application / proposal / claim forms and agreements. CIFAS does not provide a credit reference service, it only provides a fraud prevention service. CIFAS information is processed by fraud prevention agencies that may also independently provide separate credit referencing services to their clients. When a CIFAS member identifies a fraud, a warning is placed against the address or addresses linked to the application / proposal / claim or account / policy / service. The text of the warning says CIFAS – Do Not Reject – Refer for Validation. The warning shows the name used on the application / proposal / claim or account /	policy / service but this does not necessarily mean the person named is involved in the fraud as fraudsters tend to use a variety of names, some false and some genuine. The CIFAS warning will appear on the fraud prevention agency record of any person who has a link with the address. Any CIFAS member subsequently checking that address sees the CIFAS warning. The warning does not mean the address has been blacklisted. It means extra precautions should be taken to ensure the application / proposal / claim or account / policy / service that has prompted the check of the address is genuine and this protects the address from further misuse. CIFAS helps to prevent thousands of frauds every month. If a fraudster has misused your address, the CIFAS warning is designed to protect you. Only CIFAS members are able to see CIFAS warnings and they are very careful to establish the validity of any application for a product or service made from the address. This may lead to a delay when applications from you are being processed as the information you provide may need to be confirmed. However, this helps to prevent your address or other personal identification details being misused, and avoids the distress and inconvenience this would cause you. Bernie ended by saying: "That has to be worth Ł11.75 a year…"

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