Improving the security of your personal details

Many financial scams, online or otherwise, operate by using fraudulently obtained personal details to access bank accounts. This is known as 'identity theft' and has several forms including direct theft of letters and other personal information from your home, mail box or garbage, telephone or internet scams and phishing.

By taking the following simple precautions your can protect your personal information and prevent identity theft.

• Keep a lock on your mail box to prevent your mail being taken by an unauthorised person
• Make sure you store your personal information (bank statements, cheque books, passport, utility bills, tax records etc) in a secure place.
• Carry your driver's licence with you - don't leave it in your car.
• When disposing of personal information make sure you shred or tear up the documents.
• Cancel all unused or dormant bank accounts.
• Never give your bank account or personal details over the phone or in response to an email unless you have initiated the contact.
• Do not pre sign cheques or allow other people to use your cheque book. Always cross your cheques 'not negotiable' and make sure you write them in pen (not pencil). Regularly reconcile your cheque account.
• Request a copy of your personal credit file from Baycorp Advantage every six months to make sure nobody is fraudulently using your identity to obtain credit. Baycorp Advantage are the custodians of personal information in Australia, helping to manage credit risk. To obtain a copy of your file send a written request to Baycorp Advantage Public Access, PO Box 964, North Sydney, NSW, 2059 or by fax on 02 9951 7880.