Beware of fraudsters that turn up on your doorstep and ask for your signature, warns the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau’s (NFIB) Proactive Intelligence Team is warning.
The Proactive Intelligence Team debriefs convicted offenders to identify emerging trends and have found that your signature is one part of a puzzle that the fraudsters are putting together. Your signature could be the final piece – once they get hold of it they could drain your bank account or commit identity crime.
A convicted fraudster who was recently interviewed said: “If we want to get someone’s signature it’s really easy. All we do is put on a fluorescent coat or vest, knock on the door and ask the person to sign for a letter or a flyer. They don’t need signing for but nobody ever questions why and we don’t hang around for a chat! Once we have the signature we can make changes on their bank accounts and authorise fraudulent money transfers.”
Advice
Not expecting a delivery? Be suspicious, suggest police. Question what you are signing for, look for official identification and if you do sign, just print your name. Check your bank and financial statements carefully and report anything suspicious to the bank or financial service provider concerned.
Criminals commit different frauds depending on the type of the personal information they manage to steal, police point out. Your identity is a precious commodity; you should take every precaution to ensure that it isn’t abused or stolen.
