An Example Of The Potential For Bank Identity Theft

Whilst you may feel that bank identity theft is unlikely, and it should be, you never can be sure. Sometimes, rank incompetency can put your personal details at risk.

In early 2007, the UK ICO (Information Commissioners Office) told 11 high street banks that they need to clean up their collective acts when it comes to personal information. It seems that personal information of varying quantity and quality was discarded in rubbish bags outside the offices of local bank branches whilst waiting for binmen to collect them.

Though the problems appear to be small scale, the potential for harm to an individual is immense. An identity thief could use this highly sensitive information to begin building a fake profile.

Complaints had been made against the banks by Scams Direct, BBC Watchdog and the Sunday Mail. As you can see from this BBC Story , NatWest Bank was one of those investigated.

Financial services companies hold such sensitive information that it is vital that they protect our information with great care and help us all to avoid becoming a victim of bank identity theft.

You will be pleased to hear that the ICO uses 'bin detectives' to make random checks and investigations into the waste habits of UK banks. Hopefully, they can help prevent more people becoming victims.

Click here to return to the previous page about bank identity theft