Thousands of Cardiff students are putting themselves at risk of becoming victims of identity theft, gair rhydd can reveal.
By not destroying personal information, failing to redirect mail to new addresses and having their mail accessed by others in halls of residences, students risk having their personal details accessed and used in what latest figures reveal to be one of the UK’s fastest-growing crimes.
In just one afternoon of searching student areas Cathays and Roath, gair rhydd found enough documents containing personal information for a fraudster to impersonate ten different identities.
Letters from banks, tax information and utility bills were among those not disposed of properly and displayed vital information including bank details, customer account information and National Insurance numbers.
In possession of such documents a thief could be able to use statements as ID in a bank or building society and use utility bills in order to get a mobile phone contract in someone else’s name.
Statements showing bank details also provide easy access to a student’s account and allow thieves to gain valuable information on who they bank with, what direct debits they have and recent transactions.
PC Robert Keohane, Student Liaison Officer for Cardiff, highlighted the potential risks of someone getting hold of such personal information.
“With someone’s bank information you could probably apply for a credit card,” he said.
“The worst case scenario is that if someone gets hold of your bank details they could obviously use it to gain employment, and certainly run up a load of bills in your name.”
It has even been proven that, with a bank statement or a credit card slip, a fraudster can send off for someone’s birth certificate or driving licence.
Once a birth certificate is obtained, the fraudster has access to details such as the person’s mother’s maiden name, which can subsequently be used to help apply for a passport.
Letters found strewn around student residences included two from the Inland Revenue – revealing addresses, National Insurance numbers, and tax codes and references – that could be used to enquire about information on tax payments and someone’s wages.
Others included a form from First Direct offering an upgrade on a student’s bank account, an NTL bill featuring an account summary and even a sheet of paper with handwritten notes on a tenancy agreement and money plans.
Even information that may appear harmless – such as National Insurance numbers and student course details – is stressed to be potentially dangerous if left lying around.
“It certainly gives you a start,” warns PC Keohane. “I mean, if an asylum seeker got hold of your National Insurance number and address it’s a start, isn’t it? Immediately they have a status.”
With exams finishing and students changing accommodation, such information is being disposed of carelessly, with some students dumping their coursework and study material in the streets or on top of bins.
One document found metres away from discarded exam papers revealed a student’s name, course details, personal details including date of birth and addresses in both Cardiff and overseas – all valuable information for an identity fraudster.
PC Keohane advises: “I’d make sure that you rip up all bank statements and anything with personal details on them, preferably with a shredder.”
Failure to do so makes it easier for binned documents to be recollected, but is not the only way to prevent putting personal details at risk.
Having an average of three different addresses during their time at university, students often move without redirecting their mail to their new address.
This means that most houses end up receiving reams of bills, statements and other documents on a daily basis that, if collected, can reveal valuable personal information about previous tenants.
Kirsty Pavey, a final year law and criminology student claimed: “We are always getting mail for our house but not for people currently living there.”
Similarly, third year business student Amy Kilford said: “We get loads of mail for the wrong people. Mostly it’s unpaid NTL bills and credit card stuff.”
Second year English literature student Sally Airey added: “We’re always getting mail for the wrong people. Most of it’s charity stuff but you do get credit card and bank letters.”
Also at risk are students having their mail exposed in university halls of residences.
In the majority of first year halls at Cardiff University, a mail box is shared by a number of students meaning everyone has a key to access others’ mail.
In Tower, University Hall, 85 students own a key for the same mailbox located on the ground floor.
Speaking on the dangers of such a group mail system, PC Keohane said: “It might be worth them looking into having a system where important documents like new bank cards aren’t delivered in a group mailbox.”
When questioned on such risks, a University spokesperson responded: “Residences differ slightly but the basic mail delivery system is one lockable mail box shared by a group of students.
“We have actually updated from open pigeon holes to lockable boxes across a number of sites.
“The system in halls is specific because of a number of factors. Royal Mail would not be willing to deliver to individual flats and rooms, and for reasons of security we would not allow a postman to enter all areas of halls that would be required for personal delivery.”
In such circumstances where everyone has access to each other’s mail, the Home Office recommends arranging with your bank or credit card company to collect valuable items such as cheque books from local branches rather than having them sent.
They also recommend notifying Royal Mail to redirect post to a new address for at least a year.
It is also advised to cancel lost or stolen cards immediately and to keep a note of emergency numbers to call. Unwanted documents should be destroyed – preferably with a shredder – and statements should be checked for unfamiliar transactions.
The Home Office also warns: “Having your identity stolen may make it become difficult to get loans, credit cards and other contracts until it is sorted out.”
Students are becoming more at risk as they are carelessly exposing personal information during end of term clear-outs, house hunting and job searching.
“You especially have to be careful with going on the Internet,” said PC Keohane.
“Giving out credit card details and personal details has massive implications. Places like eBay, for instance.”
Constable Jeff Richards, of the crime department unit at Swansea police, also warns students of such risks.
“If you are going to use auction sites on the Internet, fraudsters will try to get you away from the normal purchasing recommendations and ask for a cash transaction or a cheque,” he said.
“Don’t fall into that trap.”
But despite its increasing risks, PC Keohane states that identity theft is still a relatively undetected crime, with people tending to not come forward.
Statistically, less than one per cent of cases are actually investigated by the police.
“It’s one of those things that the police don’t receive as many complaints about,” he said.
“People tend to report it to their bank or card company rather then the police.
“The banks tend to deal with it internally, as they don’t want the negative publicity.
“But credit card fraud and all the rest of it – it’s absolutely massive.”
Neil Munroe, external affairs director at credit-reference agency Equifax, was also keen to emphasise such dangers. He said: “The worst thing is, identity fraud is a silent, almost invisible crime.
“Most people won’t realise they have been a victim for up to a year.
“Apart from the anxiety and stress caused to victims of ID fraud, it can take up to 300 hours of phone calls to deal with banks, credit card companies and other lenders.
“This incurs enormous personal time, effort and cost to the victim, so prevention is definitely better than cure.”
The University has stressed that it is there for students who fear they may be at risk.
A spokesperson said: “We are happy to offer any help to raise awareness of identity theft among students.”
