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Original poster

To be reluctant to provide fingerprints for this reason?

142 replies

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 18:39

A bit puzzled and confused about this.

I subscribe to the update service for the DBS. Received this letter.

As part of your subscription we continually check the police national computer (PNC) and have found the record of a person with similar identify details to your own. This does not mean that this PNC record belongs to you, however, we need to confirm that this is not the case. To do this, we need to compare your fingerprints with those held on the PNC record.

There is more, but that’s the important part.

I know everyone will say scam but I’m as sure as I can be that it isn’t. Completely baffled and not entirely comfortable with it.

OP posts:
MagentaRocks · 06/09/2024 20:48

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:46

In well over forty years I’ve never had to do it so I’m afraid going to my local police station and handing over highly personal info isn’t akin to nipping into Tesco after work. That snark isn’t aimed at you by the way, it’s the ‘well if you don’t like it get another job’ posters.

It isn’t every day you come home to a letter like that.

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It might just be that until recently there wasn’t someone known to the police for criminal matters with similar details.

The fingerprints will be destroyed once it is sorted.

To be reluctant to provide fingerprints for this reason?
Manxexile · 06/09/2024 20:47

I have a zero footprint on social media but regulalry google my name to see what comes up.

I did it a couple of years ago and was horrified to say that somebody with my name (and it's quite an unusual name) had been convicted of sex offences in another part of the country.

It must happen quite often with DBS that they can't categorically distinguish between different people without comparing identifying features like fingerprints.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:47

Flopsythebunny · 06/09/2024 20:46

You could always refuse and not get your clearance, then find an occupation where you don't need a dbs

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Yeah. You might be totally comfortable with whatever personal information you have being handed over just so you can continue working. I’m not totally comfortable with it. That doesn’t mean I’m going to refuse to do it. It does mean I’m a bit unnerved by it. I reserve that right.

OP posts:
Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:46

MagentaRocks · 06/09/2024 20:43

I had a feeling you had misread the letter. It really is a normal thing to have to do.

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In well over forty years I’ve never had to do it so I’m afraid going to my local police station and handing over highly personal info isn’t akin to nipping into Tesco after work. That snark isn’t aimed at you by the way, it’s the ‘well if you don’t like it get another job’ posters.

It isn’t every day you come home to a letter like that.

OP posts:
Flopsythebunny · 06/09/2024 20:46

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 19:07

I’m not comfortable with my fingerprints being taken for no other reason than this one (ie have not been accused of any crime.)

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You could always refuse and not get your clearance, then find an occupation where you don't need a dbs

GiveMeSomeWaterItsHot · 06/09/2024 20:46

They’ve put ‘identify’, when it should be ‘identity’. Looks dodgy to me. Have you hovered over the email address where this came from to check it’s legit? I’d call them first to be honest.

stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:44

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:41

That isn’t what the letter says.

Edit on closer reading it does; my apologies.

Edited
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Ah just go and do it so they can rule you out of whatever crime it is

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 06/09/2024 20:44

stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:41

If you don't like it get another job. I really don't see your issue with doing this.

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Sorry what?! Taking ink prints and the mess that comes with it is more annoying than taking digital prints. For me and the person needing prints. This takes up a fraction of my job, the rest of my job is just fine thanks. (Are you ok? What a bizarre response).

MagentaRocks · 06/09/2024 20:43

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:41

That isn’t what the letter says.

Edit on closer reading it does; my apologies.

Edited
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I had a feeling you had misread the letter. It really is a normal thing to have to do.

stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:41

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 06/09/2024 20:38

I take those fingerprints (at a police station) and it's more ink than digital believe it or not. It's usually foreign nationals with job offers here and vice versa and the embassies always want ink prints. Very annoying! 😂.

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If you don't like it get another job. I really don't see your issue with doing this.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:41

Misthios · 06/09/2024 20:40

You have to go to the police station and prove your identity with a passport/driving licence and THEY take your prints. They don't just ask you to send in a sheet of A4 with some grubby marks on it.

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That isn’t what the letter says.

Edit on closer reading it does; my apologies.

OP posts:
Misthios · 06/09/2024 20:40

JohnCravensNewsround · 06/09/2024 20:33

Am I being thick? Unless they are taken by someone official ie a police officer, you could just put anyone's finger prints in?

You have to go to the police station and prove your identity with a passport/driving licence and THEY take your prints. They don't just ask you to send in a sheet of A4 with some grubby marks on it.

DisabledDemon · 06/09/2024 20:38

Here you go.

email [email protected] or phone 03000 200 190 for DBS check and barring enquiries.

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 06/09/2024 20:38

Stravaig · 06/09/2024 20:30

Look up the DBS enquiry line via their website, and call them to confirm the authenticity of the letter, and ask how the process would work.

I don't think it would bother me, but I was fingerprinted several times as a small child, as part of travel/immigration procedures. So it seems pretty normal. Index cards with my tiny wee fingerprints might still exist in forgotten basements of the world.

Back in those days it was ink pads, rollers, and smudgy fingers afterwards. I imagine it's all high-tech scanning these days.

I take those fingerprints (at a police station) and it's more ink than digital believe it or not. It's usually foreign nationals with job offers here and vice versa and the embassies always want ink prints. Very annoying! 😂.

MagentaRocks · 06/09/2024 20:38

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:30

Feel sorry for the poor sod passing themselves off as me.

They must have a shit life if I look like a good option!

I doubt it is someone passing themselves off as you, it will just be someone with similar details and they need to check. It is not unusual for a criminal to give a slightly different name or date of birth. So you could be a
Jane Marie Bloggs b 12/03/64 and there could be a Jane Mary Bloggs b 12/03/65. They just need to check you aren’t Jane Mary Bloggs.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:37

JohnCravensNewsround · 06/09/2024 20:33

Am I being thick? Unless they are taken by someone official ie a police officer, you could just put anyone's finger prints in?

That is a very good point.

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 06/09/2024 20:35

You are pretty much being asked to prove your innocence here, and that’s not how it should work!

FFS. That is literally what a DBS check is! Proof that you don't have a criminal conviction!

MagentaRocks · 06/09/2024 20:34

How does the letter say you need to provide your prints? It is usual to ask for them if there are 2 people that are similar but you would be asked to go to a police station with ID and have them taken there. You can also ask for them to be destroyed once they have verified who you are (or who you are not)

JohnCravensNewsround · 06/09/2024 20:33

Am I being thick? Unless they are taken by someone official ie a police officer, you could just put anyone's finger prints in?

Stravaig · 06/09/2024 20:30

Look up the DBS enquiry line via their website, and call them to confirm the authenticity of the letter, and ask how the process would work.

I don't think it would bother me, but I was fingerprinted several times as a small child, as part of travel/immigration procedures. So it seems pretty normal. Index cards with my tiny wee fingerprints might still exist in forgotten basements of the world.

Back in those days it was ink pads, rollers, and smudgy fingers afterwards. I imagine it's all high-tech scanning these days.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:30

Feel sorry for the poor sod passing themselves off as me.

They must have a shit life if I look like a good option!

OP posts:
Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:29

I do, but I generally use my driving licence for ID purposes. Full name, address, DOB, photo, and they still don’t know who I am does seem a bit weird.

Anyway, it came as a bit of a shock tbh when I opened the letter. I was not expecting to start my weekend with a fingerprint check!

OP posts:
NigelHarmansNewWife · 06/09/2024 20:26

The OP says she hasn't travelled outside the UK since 2002 so she may well not have a valid passport.

Reframe things: once the police can compare your finger prints with those they have on file for the criminal who has the same name, etc this will stop the possibility of this person passing themselves off as you/being confused with you and potentially causing issues for you.

Hedgewitch123 · 06/09/2024 20:23

Hedgewitch123 · 06/09/2024 20:17

I had this with scam hmrc letter.... sooooo convincing. Even the paper was the same and paper for letter. Seemed so legit, realised last minute it was a scam.

Best to ring and enquire... no use asking mumsnet as it seems quite a unique situation where you need to speak directlyvto someone, unless someones experienced it that im not aware of. I'm intrigued how it pans out though.

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Sorry didn't read all of thread! Interesting, learn something new every day

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