Identity and Credit Card Fraud

To prevent members of the community from becoming victims of identity or credit card fraud, Essex Police offers the following guidance.


“You should never give out details of your PIN number to another person, not even to a respected figure of authority in the community. No professional body or person, not even your bank, will ever ask for the PIN number of your credit or debit cards."

Identity theft is when someone’s personal information is obtained by another person without their knowledge. When the information gathered is used by the criminal to obtain credit, goods or services this is identity fraud.

Here are some simple steps that everyone can take to protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity fraud:

- Store details that contain personal information in a safe place
- Shred or destroy any documents such as bills, receipts or general post
- Check your bank statements regularly
- Have a different password or PIN for each account
- Ensure that your home computer has good anti-virus protection