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AIBU?

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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:
QueenHilda · 06/09/2024 20:22

I guess the other thing to be mindful of is identity theft. Who is this person who shares so many details with you?

How common is your name?

Check your credit score, and take a trip to your local Police station perhaps, just for reassurance?

Shiveringinthecountry · 06/09/2024 20:21

toooldtocare · 06/09/2024 19:15

Hubby who works for Police says fingerprints aren’t held on PNC records.

It is a scam.

If fingerprints were not held on records then there would be no point in fingerprinting anybody. There would be nothing to compare the prints with, to look for a match.

QueenHilda · 06/09/2024 20:20

I completely see what you’re saying OP, and I would feel the same.

All this “you’re free to refuse” making it sound like a choice when it really isn’t, because the consequence of not complying would seriously compromise you.

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

I would probably comply for the sake of getting my DBS, but I would NOT be happy about it and would be keen to know whether the prints will be stored or destroyed once my identity had been proven.

HeyPrestoAlakazam · 06/09/2024 20:18

The thing is though, there is obviously someone out there with very similar details to you...that's all. It's nothing personal, DBS are just doing their job with due diligence. I'm sure if you were in a vulnerable state and being cared for you'd rather that a criminal who could harm you wasn't caring for you. This is all just a very normal aspect of safeguarding and not strange at all...no reason at all to feel uncomfortable or perturbed.

Hedgewitch123 · 06/09/2024 20:17

stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 18:53

It's easy to put an address on a bit of paper.

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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.

Elle771 · 06/09/2024 20:16

@averystrangeletter I understand your hesitancy and think it's reasonable to contact them to ask for some alternatives e.g. providing birth certificate, passport, driving licence etc as find it hard to believe a theres someone else out there who has a criminal record with your exact names, address, dob, previous addresses and photo.... Seems like there would be other ways surely of identifying you vs them without fingerprints

User4374 · 06/09/2024 20:15

I applied for an enhanced DBS this week and it did say in the guidance that sometimes they request fingerprints if your identity can't be verified. Did you have adequate identification? Passport, driving licence? Do you have a very common name?

stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:14

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:12

I don’t know. I just know I’m not 100% comfortable with it.

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to do it, as I don’t really have a choice, but I do reserve the right to feel a bit perturbed by it.

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Fair enough. They've probably got your face scanned on cctv so I don't know why they can't use that

BirthdayRainbow · 06/09/2024 20:14

Obviously take the letter to the police station..

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:12

ReadingInTheRain583 · 06/09/2024 20:10

What do you think they're going to do with them that's concerning you?

I don’t know. I just know I’m not 100% comfortable with it.

That doesn’t mean I’m not going to do it, as I don’t really have a choice, but I do reserve the right to feel a bit perturbed by it.

OP posts:
stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:12

Misthios · 06/09/2024 20:11

Pros - you keep your job.
Cons - you lose your job.

Seriously. You'd go to a solicitor??? 🙄

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I guess con also that you might get framed for a crime?

Misthios · 06/09/2024 20:11

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 06/09/2024 20:10

Consult a solicitor for an opinion and the pros and cons of providing/not providing prints.

Pros - you keep your job.
Cons - you lose your job.

Seriously. You'd go to a solicitor??? 🙄

ReadingInTheRain583 · 06/09/2024 20:10

What do you think they're going to do with them that's concerning you?

Misthios · 06/09/2024 20:10

Do you have a fairly common name, @averystrangeletter ? More Helen White than Araminta McKenzie-Featherington?

RunAwayTurnAwayRunAwayTurnAway · 06/09/2024 20:10

Consult a solicitor for an opinion and the pros and cons of providing/not providing prints.

TeaGinandFags · 06/09/2024 20:10

Simples

The police work closely with the DBS so let them sort it out.

When you have a bit of time spare, pop into your local station and get them to explain the situation. They should also tell you what rights you have to have your dabs destroyed once they've established proper identity. (Absolute, but it doesn't hurt to remind them by email afterwards.)

And tell us how it goes.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:04

LickThatPinkVenom · 06/09/2024 20:03

Documentation posted by PP said it'll be destroyed.
If you wanted to be sure, you could raise a SAR after that. Under GDPR laws they have to tell you what personal information they hold.

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Well, yes. And in all probability they will. But it is a bit strange and came out of the blue a bit!

OP posts:
stripybobblehat · 06/09/2024 20:03

If you've ever been scanned at an airport they'll have your body info anyway

LickThatPinkVenom · 06/09/2024 20:03

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:00

I don’t fully either, hut it is a strange feeling to be asked for fingerprints. A new one on me. And the fact I don’t really have a choice (yes, I know I technically do but in reality I don’t really) is a big part of why I’m not totally happy about it.

Show quote history

Documentation posted by PP said it'll be destroyed.
If you wanted to be sure, you could raise a SAR after that. Under GDPR laws they have to tell you what personal information they hold.

Original poster
averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 20:00

CloudywMeatballs · 06/09/2024 19:58

I think a lot of people, like me, don't understand why you are uncomfortable with it knowing it's not a scam, and that's why they are questioning it.

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I don’t fully either, hut it is a strange feeling to be asked for fingerprints. A new one on me. And the fact I don’t really have a choice (yes, I know I technically do but in reality I don’t really) is a big part of why I’m not totally happy about it.

OP posts:
Cerealkiller4U · 06/09/2024 20:00

JoyousPinkPeer · 06/09/2024 19:15

It will not be a scam. I know personally of a nurse who had to go down this route too. I would be wanting to know what they will do with the finger prints once they've been compared.

Edited

They’ll store them in the data base that holds a hell of a lot of fingerprints.

thats it

Cerealkiller4U · 06/09/2024 19:58

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 19:14

It’s not up to me really then is it, as I need to work. And that’s the point, it isn’t really sitting very comfortably with me I’m being put in this position.

Depends. I mean if you don’t they won’t give you your DBS certificate so I assume you don’t need it that bad 🤷‍♀️

CloudywMeatballs · 06/09/2024 19:58

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 19:52

I did say I was certain it wasn’t a scam. I’m not really sure what else I can say!

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I think a lot of people, like me, don't understand why you are uncomfortable with it knowing it's not a scam, and that's why they are questioning it.

Cerealkiller4U · 06/09/2024 19:56

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 18:56

But what would the point be of getting me to send fingerprints in to a legitimate address is my point? Smile

Cardi the whole letter is asking me to provide my fingerprints!

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Oh. I wouldn’t send them in

ask to visit a police station

Cerealkiller4U · 06/09/2024 19:55

averystrangeletter · 06/09/2024 18:41

I’m fairly certain it isn’t.

We often have to give fingerprints for my job.

I’ve heard they do it a lot for that exact reason

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