Identity fraud - hard searches - can I get advice please?

[trexraptor]

Sorry hoping for traffic.

Last year DP was subject to identity fraud. We found out because I was home when I'm usually not and took a letter in literally just after the postman popped it in the letter box. It was a credit card in DPs name for several thousand pounds. 5 mins later a man came and checked our postbox and slinked off pretty fast when he saw it was empty.
Over the next month it turned out there was a couple of phone contracts, an application for a debenhams credit card, a bank account opened and several more things that have been applied for and taken out. We reported everything and made sure it didn't affect DPs credit score.

We didn't think much more of it. I've recently registered on one of the credit score websites and it's showing several hard searches that have been made in my name - does that mean applications? Do they affect my credit score? It's showing over 10 soft searches one month and 3 hard searches.

They wouldn't have gotten anything anyway I don't think as my credit rating isn't great but I'm trying to build it up and really worried now it will affect it.

Does anyone know what hard and soft searches are on a credit score report?

My understanding is that hard searches can affect your credit score. Even more worryingly, they indicate that someone is trying to use your details and may end up being successful.

I believe you can put a marker on your credit history with the major credit scoring providers that will stop searches being done. But I have little experience so you’ll need to read up on what’s best.

How does someone else check your post and take your mail? Can you do anything to secure it? Because it does sound like it’s a neighbor or someone who can easily see your house and watch for the postman, so securing might stop them targeting you, at least.

Yes, lots of hard searches can affect your credit score.

The best course of action is to speak to the people on the website. They can tell you what to do.

You should also register with CIFAS. My DH is now after fraudulent loan applications

@BoomBoomsCousin

How does someone else check your post and take your mail? Can you do anything to secure it? Because it does sound like it’s a neighbor or someone who can easily see your house and watch for the postman, so securing might stop them targeting you, at least.

It actually happens. There were even cases of fake letterboxes put up! Ridiculous

Soft searches don't mean anything to other creditors etc, but good to keep an eye on for your own benefit.

Hard searches do mean applications, yes, a and if done in a short amount of time can harm your potential for credit as essentially it makes you look desperate for money.

Speak to action fraud and get yourself on with CIFAS for a protective registration - for the both of you I would suggest

Thanks everyone I will definitely look into it. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't worried for nothing.

@BoomBoomsCousin we have an external letterbox. It's locked but you can but your fingers through the flap bit and take letters out if you're really desperate. We are in a mid terrace in a very quiet semi rural area and never really worried about stuff like this before and when I saw the man at our letterbox my initial thought was a courier dropping off a parcel. I never saw his face, it's only when I checked the postbox after he left and it was empty I got suspicious. Then DP came home and opened the letter addressed to him and it all fell into place.
They weren't counting on me being home and must have been literally staking the address out for the postie to come which really scared me.
We now have a ring doorbell.

I’m not doubting the OP @SchrodingersImmigrant. I’m suggesting securing her post, if possible, might be a good idea.

@BoomBoomsCousin

I’m not doubting the OP *@SchrodingersImmigrant*. I’m suggesting securing her post, if possible, might be a good idea.

Oh I know! Sorry😂 That wasn't sound like it.

Outside one is like hard to secure further without significant expense, but you could see if you could attach a metal slope internally that would allow the post to fall but make it hard for an arm to snake in and reach the bottom.

Nest camera watching over sounds like a good idea.

When I worked in fraud one of the questions our telephony team asked was do you have an external mailbox.

If you didn’t make the applications you can get the searches removed.

You need to make a CIFAS category 0 protective registration application. I think it costs about £20 a year.

We were lucky to find out about someone trying to get a loan on DH's name because... They used his phone number. Kid you not. He wasn't lying, I saw his face😂
We suspect someone from solicitor's office because it had same mistake as his application there after an accident.

Can't prove it though🤷🏻 But reported it.