AIBU to ask for help- identity theft

[Yegodsandlittlefishesargh]

Posted for fast traffic sorry.

Regular mumsnetter name changed so not to make the situation worse!

My allegedly intelligent but clearly lacking in common sense, just 18yr old last night lost his bus pass...

Ok- annoying- but when pushed further admitted actually in the bloody bus pass holder was also pretty much every form of ID he possesses :(

So: bank card ( fortunately current account balance tiny, and it's only a cash card not visa) - cancelled

Also - provisional drinking licence and (arrived last Friday !!!) NUS card.so address , date of birth and photo ID

Because he's "an adult" clearly he needs to sort it. Himself. Bus pass not left on bus apparently so we are working on pinched/lost.

I've told him to leg it from school to the bank, throw himself on their mercy and tell them to look down his accounts at the moment as he has significant savings in the same bank. I assume the stuff in the holder was plenty for anyone to produce new "official" documents to get access again to the rest of his money?

Anything else we could/should be doing to try to minimise identity theft? Should the loss be reported to the police?

I am beyond furious that he could be so bloody stupid tbh! He's gone all angry and defensive- because it really happened because he was rushing across town to visit the girl he is besotted with and not taking enough care.

Thanks!

[oldgrandmama]

Definitely report it to the Police. Fast!

[AnythingNotEverything]

There really shouldn't be enough info there for someone to access his other accounts. They could possibly order something online if they have the card and billing address.

He's doing the right thing by going to the bank to inform them.

Lesson learned hopefully!

[MrsWobble]

the other thing he should do is contact CIFAS and get a marker put on his account. With that amount of ID someone could apply for and probably get a lot of credit in your son's name. This does not make it his liability, whatever the defrauded lenders try and claim, but it will cause him a lot of hassle and wreck his credit rating until it's sorted out.

[Yegodsandlittlefishesargh]

thanks all. We're a bit stuck to do anything till after school but will be onto it then!

[ChangedUsername89]

Hi