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Fraud and Security
Identity Theft
"I'm sorry, your account appears to be overdrawn"
Identity Fraud is a growing problem for both the Australian and overseas community. Reports indicate that identity fraud may cost the Australian community more than $1.1 billion every year.
Identity fraud involves an offender taking over your identity (using your personal information and/or identity documents) to apply for credit and open financial accounts in your name.
The consequences of identity fraud are far reaching and not only impact upon your financial position; it can damage your personal reputation and credit rating.
- When disposing of correspondence containing personal information, ensure that documents are destroyed properly or shredded.
- As a safeguard, lock your letterbox to help avoid your personal mail being stolen, as thieves are known to use personal details.
- Do not leave your personal items unattended in share accommodation situations.
- If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, notify the Greater Building Society as soon as possible on 1300 651400 and refer to further information contained in our attached identity theft response guide.
Identity Fraud - How can You Minimise the Risk?
"Prevention is much easier than the cure"
The Greater Building Society has a zero tolerance to all types of fraud, including identity theft that costs our community billions of dollars per year. As part of our risk reduction strategy we have produced this web page as a reference for those who are unfortunate enough to be victims of identity theft.
If you believe you have been a victim of identity theft it is important that you act quickly. Immediately notify the Greater Building Society on 1300 651400 and any other credit providers/financial institutions, Police, utility providers and credit reporting agencies of the suspected theft of your identity to protect against any unauthorised access to your accounts.
It is a good idea to maintain records of your conversations and correspondence with these parties. Follow the steps as outlined below:
- Notify your financial institutions and credit providers and inform them of the suspected fraud. Ask them to stop your accounts and investigate the incident. Ensure that no credit has been fraudulently established in your name. Request the reset of any code/passwords, including phone and Internet banking services. Cancel any credit cards and organise replacement cards. Contact your telephone, gas, electricity and water utilities. Inform them of the possible theft of your identity and the possibility of someone using it to obtain new services.
- Inform the Police, giving them as much information as possible.
- Notify the two main credit reporting agencies, Baycorp Advantage (02 94646000) and Dun & Bradstreet Credit Bureau (13 23 33) and report the possible theft and misuse of your identity to them. Request a copy of your credit file from both agencies and review for fraudulent activity such as payment defaults that you have not incurred, or credit enquiries relating to fraudulent credit applications. Obtain the report again a few months later to further check entries against fraud. Request any information on the file relating to fraud be removed.
Some hints which may assist you to avoid identity theft:
- Secure your credit/debit cards and personal ID documents in a safe place.
- Destroy any paperwork that contains personal or banking details before throwing them away. This includes old bank statements, credit card bills, utility bills, rate notices etc.
- Don't unnecessarily carry ID documents such as your passport or birth certificate in case they are lost or stolen.
- Help protect your mail from theft by having a lock on your letterbox.
- Make sure you are careful to whom you provide personal information. If asked to disclose personal information, satisfy yourself about the security of the information and be very careful when asked to provide information over the phone or Internet.
- Ensure that your personal computer has installed the latest anti-virus, anti-spy ware software and security patches for its operating system. Update you PC security on a monthly basis.
- The Greater Building Society will never call you and ask you to provide sensitive account information (such as your PIN and passwords). So if you are contacted to reveal this information, it will not be the Greater making these enquiries. Report the matter to us immediately.
- Regularly review your credit file to ensure that the information is correct. Ongoing monitoring services may be obtained from credit reporting agencies. Check with them for availability and cost.
- Contact the Post Office to confirm no unauthorised changes to your mailing address.
- Be Alert. Continue to monitor your account statements, mail and bills for any irregular activity. Immediately alert the relevant credit provider(s) of any further fraudulent activity.
These web sites may assist to further your knowledge regarding identity theft.