Potential for identity fraud following theft of personal details from Sony

1. Monitor credit card statements, and
2. Change your password. If you also use the same user name and password for other unrelated accounts, they recommend that you also change these.

Identity theft is when a fraudster uses another persons identity documents to impersonate that person and steal their identity. This can then be used to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards, and to take out loans or apply for benefits in the other person’s name.

The Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance Service (CIFAS) give the following advice to prevent identity theft:

1. Check your bank, credit card and other financial statements for items you don’t recognise.
2. Take notice if your regular statements or other items of post don't arrive.
3. Obtain regular credit reports and check for unfamiliar information, such as a new credit application, a new account or a bogus forwarding address.
4. Investigate any credit refusal - it could be a sign that your credit report has been damaged by fraud.
5. Respond immediately to contact from a lender or debt collector about an account you haven’t applied for or a debt you do not owe. The sooner you realise there is a problem and take action to prevent it, the less trouble it is likely to cause you.

If you do become a victim of Identity Fraud, CIFAS advise:

1. Immediately alert any organisations you know to be involved. They will tell you whether you need to contact the police.
2. Alert one of the three credit reference agencies (Callcredit Ltd., Equifax Ltd., or Experian Ltd.) They will be able to help you review your credit report and identify any fraudulent entries, and will contact all of the organisations involved for you. They will also notify the other two credit reference agencies so they too can offer help.
3. Consider getting a CIFAS Protective Registration. For a small fee, a warning will alert most lenders to the fraud so that they can take extra care when dealing with credit applications in your name.
4. Tell your bank that you are a victim of fraud, whether or not they are involved. They will be able to monitor your account (or accounts) more closely for you.

Further information is available from: www.cifas.org.uk or www.identitytheft.org.uk

Computer hackers have managed to steal details of millions of customer’s identities from the Sony PlayStation and Online Entertainment Networks. The details stolen included: names, addresses, date of birth, telephone numbers, and credit card details. Sony has given customers the following advice: