There’s only one of you, yet it’s relatively easy for a criminal to create a clone! At Wonga we take great care to protect your information securely when you apply for a short term loan, but you might be surprised by how few personal facts fraudsters need in order to commit ID theft and other fraud crimes.

And the most likely source of this basic info is YOU. They can even apply for a credit card with just your name, full address and date of birth. So take great care of your personal information and follow our simple tips…

• If anyone asks you for your personal details, ask yourself why they might need them and don’t be afraid to question or refuse
• Don’t write down passwords or PINs or, if it’s literally the only way you can remember them, be sure to keep them separate and very well hidden
• Invest in a decent shredder and make sure any letters or bills which aren’t being filed are totally destroyed before going in the bin
• Make sure your home laptop or PC is protected by a firewall and anti-virus software. There are plenty of free options so there’s no excuse for not protecting yourself online
• Never trust emails asking for personal details, even if they look like they’re from a service provider you use – if you’re really in doubt and think you might be ignoring something important, you can always phone

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 at 11:20 am and is filed under Credit, General, Responsible borrowing.