What is Identity theft?

Your identity and personal information are valuable. Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licenses in your name.

This website can help you protect yourself, advises what to do if it happens to you and suggests where to get further help.

It has been produced by the Home Office Identity Fraud Steering Committee, a collaboration between UK financial bodies, government and the police to combat the threat of identity theft.

Advice for Child Benefit recipients concerned about ID theft:

If you are concerned about the potential HMRC data compromise, please telephone the HMRC dedicated Child Benefit Helpline on 0845 302 1444.

Whilst there is no evidence that the lost data has fallen into criminal hands we have produced a customer helpsheet (PDF: 50.1KB), containing questions & answers and top tips on spotting and stopping ID theft.

For press information about this issue, please see our press statement.