Identity fraud - Default notice from 02 for a phone contract that I didn’t set up

[KiwiMum2023]

Sorry for the very dull but factual title. Curious to see if anyone else has experienced this. Essentially, received two letters from 02 today saying I had defaulted on payments for my phone. Number is not mine so called to investigate and it became clear that someone had set up a phone contract using my name and address (not my bank account thankfully). Guy at 02 has cancelled the phone and number and passed details on to fraud team. I’m obviously a bit shocked by this, it’s very violating and horrible to think of someone using my name like that. Also begs the question just how much of a check these phone companies to? Clearly not. Anyone else been in a similar situation? Anything else I should do or worry about? ☹️

Check your credit file to make sure the arrears for this account are removed, and also make sure they haven't taken out anything else using your details.

I had 4 accounts set up with the JD Williams group with approx £1,000 on each account. I only knew when I received debt collection letters. The accounts were set up in my maiden name at an address I hadnt lived at for the last 4 years. I had to send in paperwork that proved I sold the house prior to the date the accounts were opened....and they shut the accounts. I now check clear score frequently!

Someone got hold of DH'S details (his first name begins with an "i") and they went into a phone shop to take out a contract - we requested to see the evidence and the signature of the fraudster was literally a letter "i", how that is classed as an acceptable signature is beyond me.

I had the same. Someone tried to take an 02 phone using my name and address and applying online.

I have an account with Equifax so go an alert that O2 had done a credit search under my name. I immediately contacted them to inform them this was fraudulent/not initiated by me so the contract was not set up.

Some of these companies are really careless with their checks so I would advise keeping an eye on your Experian and Equifax credit files and checking them for unusual activity.

Happened to my friends DH. He is a solicitor and they were furious as it could have looked dodgy and affected his job. They also asked for signatures and the ID that had been checked. Neither, obviously matched. Seems O2 aren’t exercising proper due diligence.

This happened with me with 02 about a year ago. It took 9 months or so to sort it. If you want to PM me, I have contact details for someone within 02 who was actually helpful. It’s finally been removed from my credit file. Seems their security is non existing!

My DW was getting loads of letters from various companies saying they thought someone was fraudulently setting up accounts.

The only way we have stopped it was making sure they put a CEFAS marker on your credit file.

Thankfully all the fraud has now stopped.

Good luck getting it stopped.

This happened to me too with a few different phone providers and it took police involvement and months of monitoring and reminding the credit agencies to get my credit record fully corrected.
I also have a CEFAX marker on my file now, but then had trouble myself trying to buy something on credit the first time after that was added.

I would definitely recommend getting your file from all three credit rating agencies to check there's nothing else on there, and then making sure they remove all the fraudulent information.

Someone set up a Klarna account in my name - first I knew about it was when I received a default letter from them saying I owed nearly a grand.

To their credit, they were really good and solved it within a couple of days, closed the case and I've not had any further issues.

Was it a SIM card or was it with device? Ask what date it was carried out and check the delivery address have they changed your address,? Ask them to listen to the call and you would like a copy of the call to see what information the fraudster has on you. Sign up to Experian and equifax to see has any other financial agreements been taken out in your name. If it was done online that means there is a fraud email registered to your account. If it was on phone they have passed security to get speaking to a sales team. You need to find out what information they had to get through security

Thanks all. I received two more letters today and it transpires that the individual set up two contracts in my name.. they also used my email address (they have not hacked account) but I never received any emails confirming new contract etc O2 are being quite vague. It seems it was done online - so what checks are being done? I am also confused as to where the phone was delivered as it certainly didn’t go to my address. I’m getting more confused by the minute.

I got the same ''it was done online'' thing so I asked them ''how are they getting hold of their phone then?'' as I assumed it would not be sent to my address and if they had done a credit check it should have raised an alarm that they had provided a different address from mine.

I told then if they were picking it up in a store then there should be CCTV to identify them. Anyway in this case the contract was stopped before it even became active. But I agree 02 is simply being negligent in their checks.

Coming back to this I also had a bailiff turn up at our house last year chasing a debt that wasn't ours (house has been lived in by our family for generations). He said he wouldn't be able to leave until I showed him proof to prove it was our house.
I must admit I wanted to tell him to piss off as this was not my issue but he was so polite and apologetic about it all that I got the papers out just to get it over with. He said when the court handed down the permission for them to recover the debt, checks don't take place to confirm who owns the property or lives there. Utterly baffling.

Somebody remotely stole my phone number, took over £300 out of my bank in small amounts before the account got locked. It took me over a week before I got a new sim, debit card & pin number, I had no access to money.

omggg could you pls dm me on ig N4yaa._ I would want the contact as this has happened to me.

omgggggg could you pls dm me on instagram @Beaniebeemer my @ is N4yaa._ I would want the contact for the o2 as this has happened to me.

plz pass the fraud team person I'm struggling with an account fraudulently opened in my name contacted o2 can't get thru to the fraud team as only the advisor can't pass the message and I just have to wait from the fraud team and its been over 2month .thanks

Hello, I’m having this problem, it’s been going on since June. Do you happen to still have the 02 contact? X

Hi did you get the contact details by any chance? Someone has taken 2 iPhones out in my name with o2 and they're customer service department I'd abysmal!! Help please :(

Hi did you get the contact details by any chance? Someone has taken 2 iPhones out in my name with o2 and they're customer service department I'd abysmal!! Help please :(