The Credit Bureau Association together with the Consumer Profile Bureau (CPB), has issued 10 top things credit fraudsters look for when committing identity fraud and urged consumers to remain vigilant with their personal information.
The list includes information such as bank and credit card statements as well as social network pages, which can be used to guess passwords and pin numbers and gain access to consumers’ account information.
Marina Short, chief executive officer of CPB, stressed the need for consumers to remain in control of their credit to avoid a bad credit record.
“Losing control of your credit through identity fraud can derail your financial planning and destroy your credit history good-standing, so don’t be caught unawares,” Short said.
The two top things Short highlighted were bank and credit card statements, which she explained would indicate important information such as an overdraft limit as well as your full name, address and account numbers.
Other personal information fraudsters could target is access to the consumer’s social network page, which would include invaluable information such as the dates of birth, spouse and children’s names.
“It is also imperative to ensure they don’t gain access to the security code on the back of your credit card, as this could be used to prove you are in possession of the card when you buy online, or by e-mail or telephone order,” she explained.
Short concluded by stressing the importance of remaining in control of your credit and urged consumers to check their credit report regularly to see if their name has been used to open any accounts.
“You are entitled to one free report from each of the credit bureaus per year. For a full list of bureaus and their contact details, you can visit the Credit Bureau Association’s website,” she said.
The Consumer Profile Bureau is a one of the larger credit bureaus in South Africa and a member of the Credit Bureau Association.
Other information fraudsters look for include:
- Your driving licence or passport
- The reply to a phishing e-mail
- Your pins and passwords
- A catalogue
- Your Curriculum Vitae
- Online banking information.
Details: www.cba.co.za
