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Windsor MP Issues Advice to
Constituents Following HMRC Data Loss
22-Nov-07, Press Release.
Adam Afriyie MP is calling on all constituents to remain
vigilant following the loss of bank account details,
national insurance numbers and other personal information
belonging to over 25 million individuals.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday admitted that “two
password-protected discs containing a full copy of HMRC’s
entire data in relation to the payment of child benefit were
sent to the National Audit Office, by HMRC’s internal post
system operated by the courier TNT. The package was sent
without requesting recorded or registered delivery.”
Adam Afriyie said:
"With this major security breach at HMRC, the implications
for families in Windsor are clear. Something has slipped
out of control and Gordon Brown seems unable to deal with
it.
Adam added:
"The Windsor Association office has received many emails and
phone calls from worried residents. They are also angry
that this fiasco is of the Governments making.
“Constituents tell me that they are gob-smacked at the total
incompetence shown by a Government department.
"I very much hope that people's financial details are
swiftly recovered and do not fall into the wrong hands.”
Advice to constituents:
If you have any concerns, please contact
HMRC on 0845 302 1444 between 8am and 8pm on any day of the
week (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and new Years Day).
If you see any suspicious activity in your bank statements,
please contact your bank immediately.
The following steps can also be taken to help prevent
identity fraud:
·
Keep your personal and confidential documents
secure
·
Regularly check your bank and credit card
accounts for unusual transactions
·
Regularly obtain a copy of your credit report
from credit reference agencies Callcredit, Equifax or
Experian, and monitor it for discrepancies
·
When you move home, redirect your mail from
your old address to your new address for at least a year.
·
Always shred before disposing of documentation
– bank and credit card statements, utility bills, receipts,
direct mail containing any personal information, mortgage
applications etc
·
Going away? If you're planning to be away from
home, you’ll want to make sure you don’t leave any obvious
clues, like a pile of mail on your doormat, contact Royal
Mail about their 'Keepsafe' service which will hold your
mail for up to two months, and deliver it on your return.
For more information visit www.royalmail.com
·
Never give out any personal information to
unidentified individuals or organisations who contact you by
phone, email or face-to-face
·
Visit
www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/ for information
on different types of fraud
·
Never respond to e-mails asking for personal
or financial information. Be especially careful when sending
personal information over the internet.
·
If you receive an email that warns, with
little or no notice, that an account will be shut down
unless you reconfirm billing or security information, you
should not reply or click on the link in the email. Instead,
contact the institution cited in the email using a telephone
number or web site address you know to be genuine.
·
Use up-to-date anti-virus software and a
personal firewall and, if your computer uses the Microsoft
Windows operating system, keep it updated from the Microsoft
website. Be extra careful if using Internet cafes or any PC
which is not your own and over which you have no control. If
in doubt, a good place to get help and guidance on how to
stay safe online is your bank's website. Check regularly for
specific information and guidance on protecting your PC and
yourself online.
·
Avoid emailing personal and financial
information. Before submitting financial information through
a web site, look for the ‘lock’ icon on the browser's status
bar. It signals that personal information is secure during
transmission.
·
Never give personal information to people
calling from companies you have not dealt with before.
Always check the identity of these people by calling them
back. Obtain their office number from directory enquiries
and then confirm their position with the switchboard before
speaking to them
·
If you have been a victim of identity fraud
involving the use of plastic cards, online banking or
cheques, the matter should be reported direct to the
financial institution concerned. They will then be
responsible for further investigation and, where
appropriate, onward reporting to the police. Other incidents
should be reported to the relevant organisation and,
dependent on their advice, to your local police station
End
Contact Details:
Adam Afriyie MP
Telephone: 0207 219 8023
Email:
afriyiea@parliament.uk |
