Protect Your Personal Data – Keep Your Eye on the Ball
We are spending more and more of our time online and it’s important to stay vigilant as to where and with whom you share certain types of personal information and data. This is especially so when talking to people at Share a Mortgage. Even the least likely piece of personal data can be used for fraudulent purposes.
Top Tips:
1. Never give out Personal Data to anyone unless they are a mortgage adviser, surveyor, solicitor or during the Shared Ownership Protection creation process.
2. Keep watch of your Personal Credit file for any irregularities - new credit requests, change of details
3. When using the Share a Mortgage website, if you are worried that your Personal Data has been compromised take immediate action and contact Share a Mortgage by email at help@shareamortgage.com.
Article Content
The England Team Took Their Eyes off The Ball
Keeping a close eye on your Personal Data and stop identity theft
What to look for on your Personal Credit file
The England Team Took Their Eyes off The Ball
With all of the preparation and organisation behind England's football team, you’d expect that very few slips ups would occur when it comes to the team’s personal data. Sadly this did occur before the start of the Brazilian World Cup as the England squad embarked on their - sadly fruitless - campaign for glory in Brazil.
As has been well documented, the England team sheet was circulated in the Miami media centre prior to their warm-up match against Ecuador. This sheet contained each player’s name, date of birth and passport number.
Sadly a photo of the team sheet was unwittingly tweeted by one of England’s sponsors, and although it was swiftly deleted, it had already been re-tweeted and shared online a number of times.
In addition, the signatures of skipper Frank Lampard, who had signed off the team list, and director of England team operations Michelle Farrar, were also visible on the list.
What is Personal Data
Personal data is anything that is personal to you and includes:
1. Full Name
2. Date of Birth
3. Home Address
4. National Insurance Number
5. Passport Number
6. Your signature
7. Passwords
8. Email addresses
9. PINs for cards
10. Bank account details
One piece of personal data can be used for fraudulent purposes so do not take any risks no matter what.
At Share a Mortgage we take your Personal Data security very seriously and so should you. It is important to never give Personal Data to anyone including potential Mortgage Buddies. The only time you need to give Personal Data is to your mortgage adviser, solicitor, surveyor or when preparing your Shared Ownership Protection.
If you are asked for any Personal Data and/or you feel your Personal Data has been compromised you should notify Share a Mortgage immediately by emailing help@shareamortgage.com.
Keeping a close eye on your Personal Data and stop identity theft
Your Personal Data is centrally stored on your Personal Credit file. There are several companies that monitor your Personal Credit file, such as Experian, Equifax and CallCredit. Mortgage Lenders and other credit providers will check your Personal Credit file before agreeing to lend to you.
Keeping a close eye on our personal credit information is something we could all benefit from, and there are a number of simple things we can all do to help protect our identities online, and help avoid becoming a victim to identity theft.
What to look for on your Personal Credit file
Think about how much information you really need to share, as fraudsters can use personal details like date of birth, age, maiden names or even seemingly unimportant information like your children’s or even pet’s names to guess private passwords or PINs.
Your credit report can highlight irregularities such as suspect applications for credit and rises in card balances.
Follow these key messages:
1. Never give out Personal Data to anyone unless they are a mortgage adviser, surveyor, solicitor or during the Shared Ownership Protection creation process.
2. Keep watch of your Personal Credit file for any irregularities - new credit requests, change of details
3. When using the Share a Mortgage website, if you are worried that your Personal Data has been compromised take immediate action and contact Share a Mortgage by email at help@shareamortgage.com.
Share a Mortgage will take immediate action to support you in keeping your Personal Data secure.
Read other related articles
1. How does your Credit Report work?
2. Protect yourself from Identity Fraud
