Some one has 'stolen' my identity, opened a Bank Account with TSB, obtained a Credit Card from Capitol One and tried to get one from MBNA but they sent a letter wanting more details. The Bank Account letter was accompanied with a Visa Debit Card and had a £500 overdraft including a Pin Number and an activation code for Internet Banking in separate letters.The Capitol One Card also was sent out with a Pin Number, separate letters.
They were sent to my Flat but I had redirected my Mail to my daughters as I am on a long term holiday, The Mailboxes are all grouped together on the Ground Floor, access from inside with a key.
I called all 3 yesterday and believe it or not the Fraud Teams are on holiday till Tuesday so I only got the Call Centre people. So if your going to defraud a Bank/Credit Card company do it at a W.E. or a Bank Holiday, gives you plenty of time too launder the money.
Seriously in this day and age I thought to open a Bank Account you have proof of Address and photographic evidence not sure about a Credit Card.
I am always very careful with any correspondence, virtually paperless so how did they get my details and how did they plan to get the letters, only a couple of people know I am out of town. Would they wait for the Postman and remove the letters externally, wouldnt be difficult to do. My mate has been round and my place is secure. I did have some one rent for 3 years but I doubt she would do it, she actually moved to the next block, I changed the lock on my door after she moved out.

You bought anything online? In one transaction your whole life is on display. Think Amazon etc. third party sellers, items form China, that kind of stuff.

I buy regularly from Amazon and EBay but use PayPal.
I always use PayPal to buy everything online, I am always receiving emails from phishing emails informing me there is a problem with my PayPal account but delete them and log in through their webpage too check,

Communal letterboxes are firm favourites with identity thieves.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/pers ... -scam.html

I know, that friggin Zippy did the same to me!

the missus has been done twice in 6 months by fraudsters both times they have accessed her telephone banking and passed all security questions and emptied her accounts !

the last one was the best they rang up pretending to be her and requested a new cash card and said she had moved to a flat in London details by the way can you up my overdraft fromm 200 to 1200 ! yes no bother was the reply

someone too 200 quid out of my bank account and i,d still got my card on me in my pocket. how do the scum do it.

Facebook is the identity theive's biggest friend. Want to know date of birth, mothers maiden name? Easy.

It is if you put loads of personal details on FB, my address isn't nor my Mothers Maiden name.
To open a Bank Account to stop money laundering you have to prove your identity, photographic is normally one. I am 6000 miles away, I have my Passport and my Driving Licence with me, the applications were made just before Christmas.
It could have been a decent earner for the fraudsters, £500 overdraft plus a Debit Card with a Pin Number from TSB, I have never had any association with TSB.
The Credit Card had a £1500 limit on it, so there was a minimum potential of £2000 including the Debit Card.

Perhaps Jimbo but many many do. I've just checked someone I know on FB and I see that it was her birthday a couple of weeks ago. I seen that her mum congratulated her as did her mums brother, so I now have her mother's maiden name.

I know where she works because she says so on FB. I also know what her job is. If I so minded I could pay a couple of quid and search the electoral roll for the past few years so I know where she lives and where she works. Admittedly I don't know her bank details but that wouldn't stop me opening a new bank account in her name. If I was really chinese and really clever I could hack her emails and probably find out.

I'm sure thats not 100% but you get the idea.

I can't disagree with any of your comments, good post and as you say people put too much info on FB. You can access the Electoral Roll through 192.com, it used to be free but it's only a few quid to access the info, currently I am not on the Electoral Roll.
I have done a Credit Check with Experian and my Credit rating has dropped a few points because I am not on the Electoral Roll, no one else has done a Credit Check on me, I have a couple of more to companies to look at.

It's recently been revealed that FB purchase information from third parties to complete profiles, whether you provide your details or not. 'Course most people don't give a shite about their privacy.
Until it turns round and bites them.

https://www.propublica.org/article/face ... about-them

I got in touch with the Fraud Dept of the TSB today, the fella was very good explained in detail what they do, inform Credit Reference Companies about my case.

I enquired how some one got my identity without photo ID, proof of identity, he said the government had told the Banks to make it easier for people to open Bank Accounts. He asked me if I had a company, yes but I closed it down.
I 'googled' my company and 2 pages from Companies House came up when the company was formed till the date I closed it down, my addresses, when my accounts were filed, surely this info shouldn't be available for the general public to access.

I bet Gary Coxall wishes Companies House wasn't so accessible. Mind you, we've got Experian access so it wouldn't matter.