How to protect yourself from identity fraud

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 126,300 recorded cases of identity fraud in Australia in the 2014 - 15 financial year. Identity fraud happens when a fraudster finds out enough information about you that they can pretend to be you. This means they can open accounts, get hold of official documents, buy things or even take out credit in your name. All without your permission. But you can take steps to make sure it doesn't happen to you.

When you're shopping online, you're going to be entering in sensitive data such as card numbers and addresses. So it's important to make sure no one can get hold of that. You should make sure you have anti-virus and anti-spyware programmes installed on all of your devices, and that you always keep them updated.

You should also try to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks to access online banking or other sensitive accounts, as someone could breach the security. If a website requires personal information, check that the web address has 'https' in the URL rather than 'http', as this suggests the site is secure.

It’s also a good idea to keep your devices, software and apps up-to-date as these may have enhanced security features. (So no more ignoring those update notifications on your phone for weeks on end).

We can never stress enough the importance of your password security. It can be a bit of a headache, especially if you’re forgetful with passwords, but having a weak password can leave you really exposed to fraud.

You should never share or write down your PIN or any of your passwords. On top of this you should avoid using the same password across multiple accounts, and avoid using obvious terms such as your mother’s maiden name.

Ideally, your password should be a complex sentence, with a mix of lower and upper cases, numbers and symbols. For example, a combination such as ‘1l0vemyCredit5core!’ makes the job of a fraudster much harder.

Using a random string of different types of characters is another way to create a more secure password, although these are trickier to remember.

If you have trouble remembering or thinking up complex passwords, that’s where a secure password manager can come in handy. Both Safari and Chrome have these built in and they will securely store your login details so that you can have more secure passwords without the stress of forgetting them.

If you are keeping passwords stored on your computer, setting up two-step verification makes it even more secure. This is where you use a password and then another step to gain access to your accounts, such as by getting a code sent to your phone which you use as the second step of log-in. If you turn this on it can help protect you even if someone has your password, as you’ll be aware if someone else is trying to access your account, and they won’t have access to the second step of the verification process.

Credit cards sometimes have added purchase and price protection that debit cards don't offer. Price protection insurance (available on some credit cards) will pay the difference to your credit card if a product you bought has dropped in price - if you can show proof. Purchase protection on the other hand covers new items that you buy against theft and accidental damage up to 6 months from the date of purchase.

Additionally, most credit cards on the market cover security and fraud protection. For example, Visa credit cards have the ‘Verified by Visa’ technology which monitors your account for suspicious purchases. If your card is used fraudulently, you should notify your credit card company and means you won’t have to pay for that transaction while they sort out a new card for you.

It's important to remember that identity fraud doesn't just happen online. If a fraudster wants to steal your identity to defraud you, then they need to know a range of details about you. This could be financial information such as your bank account details, or even your most basic information - your name, your address and your date of birth – can leave you exposed to fraud.

Whenever you’re getting rid of any paperwork that contains personal data, make sure you shred it properly. Even things that aren’t as personal as a bank statement, such as marketing brochures, could be used by a fraudster. This is because they may still have some of your details on them, such as an address or store account number.

Make sure you’re also careful with your post. If you move house, remember to redirect your post straight away to help stop the personal information in your mail falling into the wrong hands.

It’s not always obvious that you’re being conned by a fraudster, especially if you get a call or email from someone who sounds official – like the bank or even the police. As a rule, you should never give out your personal information to cold-callers on the phone or via email.

Always delete phishing emails and avoid clicking on any of the links or attachments. Usually, if something in your inbox looks dodgy, there’s a high chance it is.

It can be tempting to put all of your personal information on social media. Especially if you like lots of messages on your birthday. But it’s really not worth the risk. There’s always a chance your profile can be seen by anyone, including potential fraudsters – no matter what security you have on your account.

Avoid publicly displaying details such as your email address, where you live, or your date of birth on social networking sites. It’s also a good idea to regularly check your privacy settings on your accounts and to not befriend anyone you don’t know.

Once you’ve done everything to protect yourself against fraud, you should always continue to keep an eye out for it. So if it does happen to you, you can nip it in the bud as quickly as possible.

Here are some things to keep an eye on:

• Check your bank statements and make sure you recognise everything on there

If you don’t, contact your bank or lender straight away. This also applies if you start to receive bank statements in the post or new credit cards that you weren’t expecting - it could be a sign someone has opened an account in your name.

• Make sure you're getting your mail

If you’re expecting mail that doesn’t arrive – particularly if it’s from a bank or lender – there’s a chance someone has got their hands on your mail. This could be innocent, or it could be a sign of fraud. You should always check with the sender that it’s definitely been sent.

• Check your credit report

Your credit report is one of the quickest ways to see if someone is trying to commit identity fraud. This is because if someone is trying to take out credit in your name, a credit enquiry will appear on your credit report. ClearScore customers can find a list of their credit enquiries in the Enquiries section of your account.

If you spot a credit enquiry you don’t recognise, check with the named lender first then report it as quickly as possible to IDCARE.