Flurry to protect accounts by lost data victims
September 28, 2008
The victims of the lost bank account data, which was lost by HM Revenues and Customs recently, are desperate to try and protect themselves against the risk of fraud and identity theft according to a recent report. HMRC lost disks containing the bank account details of around 25 million people in this latest blunder, which comes shortly after it also lost disks containing pension plan details of many Standard Life policyholders. Consumers have been taking desperate measures to protect their accounts, and government officials have urged those affected to be extra vigilant.
An official from APACS recently stated: ‘Obviously with the scale of this there can be no guarantee that fraud won’t happen, but we are doing all we can to minimise that risk. Our best advice is that if you use your child’s name or date of birth as passwords then it would be a good idea to change them, but there is no need to panic.’
As yet there has been nothing to suggest that the data has fallen into the wrong hands, but with banking fraud and identify theft already at worryingly high levels consumers should take every precaution possible to protect their accounts and information. Thousands of affected consumers flocked to change PIN numbers and passwords on their accounts for several days following the blunder.
Banks have also been instructed to be extra vigilant, and have taken steps to try and protect the accounts of those affected by the data loss.
An official from Barclay’s Bank stated: ‘We have briefed staff to be extra vigilant, and will be asking customers for additional information as well. Obviously we won’t say what those extra measures are, but we are asking people to bear with us, as we take all steps to minimise the risk to customers.’
Related Articles
- Sensitive data loss blunder continue In an age where most people are concerned about becoming victims of fraud and identity theft it seems that authorities and companies are doing nothing
- Skipton loses sensitive customer data In the latest in a long line of data loss blunders the Skipton Building Society has recently admitted that it has lost sensitive date relating
- Personal and banking details lost again The Ministry of Defence has become the latest government agency to be found guilty of losing the personal and banking details of consumers. It is
- MPs state loss of personal data should be classed as an offence Instances of data loss and security breaches by banks, financial institutions and even government agencies have been at the forefront of the financial headlines over
- Loss of personal and sensitive data should be an offence A group of MPs has stated that agencies and firms found to have recklessly or repeatedly lost sensitive and personal data should be charged with
Comments
Got something to say?