The thieves stole her ID and £6,000 - which she'll never get back

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a female surfing the web...
a female surfing the web...



When Giulia Wutz moved house, she knew it would cost a small fortune. But she didn't realise it would rob her of her identity, and £6,000 of her savings.

At the time, the 25-year-old social media manager from North London had no idea that moving house increases your chances of becoming a victim of ID fraud, because it didn't occur to her that criminals might try to use her old address to set up accounts in her name and run up debts. So she moved house, had her mail forwarded, and went on a two-week holiday to Germany.

While she was away she took the SIM card out of her phone in order to use a German SIM. It seemed like a useful money-saving option, but it proved incredibly costly.

While she was away the criminals used her date of birth and old address to access telephone banking and steal £6,000. When her bank tried to call her to query payments they couldn't get through, so the criminals took the money unchecked. She told AOL: "They never found out how they did it, so I couldn't prove the bank was to blame, so the money was never refunded."

Distress

Giulia said it wasn't just the expense, or the upset it caused: it was also a headache in practical terms. She explains: "At my new address, the mail is delivered into a communal area shared by 25 flats, so I couldn't have post delivered there as I couldn't guarantee it was secure. It means I have to have anything from the bank sent to a branch, and everything else sent to a friend, which I then have to go to collect."
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Immediately after the crime, the bank also cancelled her credit card to prevent money being taken out on it, so Giulia had no access to borrowing, and suddenly had to find cash for everything. She said: "It was a pain in the neck."

Protection

Since then, she has taken steps to ensure she is less likely to be a victim again. She has arranged for a cap to be placed on her account, to prevent too much money being taken out in one transaction.

Giulia has also signed up to Noddle so she can check her credit rating at any time to ensure no accounts have been opened without her knowledge, and she checks her own bank accounts every day to ensure there are no unexpected transactions.

She added: "I also bought another phone, so I always have my UK phone on me, so the bank can always get in touch. I've definitely learned that lesson!"

Protect yourself

These are all great approaches to reducing your risk, and you don't need to wait until the worst comes to the worst before you take steps yourself.

There are five things you can do today to protect yourself.

1. Take care online

When you are shopping online, think twice before you input your payment details. Do you know the company? Are you confident the website is secure? (Does the address at the top of the payment page begin https? And is there a padlock in the address bar). It's also worth avoiding using public wifi for online shopping, because any information you input there can be particularly vulnerable.

2. Don't over-share

Be careful about the information you send out. Noddle.co.uk points out that retailers don't need personal information such as your date of birth, your mother's maiden name or your National Insurance number, but crooks do.

This information, combined with your bank details you enter to 'pay' for goods online, could be everything an identity thief needs to steal your identity. Be wary of who's asking you for information - never give out your bank details or send money unless you are certain you can trust the person contacting you, and remember, your bank and the police will never collect your bank card, ask for your PIN or come to your home.

3. Be cunning with your passwords

You should have different passwords for all your internet accounts - and ensure they are strong. Noddle suggests using a simple memorable phrase, such as 'My parents have 4 cats & a dog', and shortening it to something like: 'Mph4c&ad'. With just that simple phrase, you suddenly get a really strong password.

4. Pay by credit card

If you're spending over £100 online then where possible, it's a good idea to pay by credit card. This way, if things go awry and a thief steals your money you've got a stronger chance of getting a refund.

5.Check your credit report

Regardless of whether you think you have been a victim of fraud or not you should check your credit report to make sure the information on it is accurate, and whether there have been searches or applications made in your name that you know nothing about.

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