By managing your personal information carefully, you can substantially reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of identity fraud. Here are some tips to show you how:

  • Be Vigilant
    Beware of anybody who contacts you unexpectedly and asks for personal information or account details even if they claim to be from your bank, the police or another official organisation like your local council. Ask for their name and a contact number and then check with the organisation in question before calling back.
  • Pay Attention to Billing Cycles
    Contact creditors immediately if your bills arrive late. A missing bill could mean a fraudster has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address.

How to prevent ID fraud

  • Check Your Credit Report at Credit Reference Agencies
    It is a good idea to check your credit report regularly with an accredited credit reference agency, such as Veda Advantage, to ensure no accounts or credit have been illegally set up in your name. Regular monitoring of your credit report will alert you if someone has been using your identity to obtain credit, ensuring you can not only rectify your credit report as soon as possible but also stop the fraudster in their tracks.
  • Shred All Documents
    Shredding documents is the best way to ensure that criminals cannot build up a profile based on the information you discard in your rubbish. Invest in a powerful shredder and make it a standard practice, whether at home or at work, to shred all documents including expired credit cards and compact discs containing personal or financial information before binning or recycling them.
    Confetti cut shredders provide greater security by cutting paper into small confetti-like particles and also reduce bulk waste. Companies such as Fellowes offer affordable shredders for home and office use
  • Protect Your Post
    Deposit outgoing post in post office boxes or at your local post office rather than leaving it in office out trays or similar. If you plan to go away, contact Australia Post about how to prevent mail build-up. For incoming post, ensure you mailbox is secured with a lock, so that once mail is delivered it can only be accessed by you or other authorized persons.
  • Stay Safe Online
    If you use the internet make sure you have the latest security patches and up-to-date anti-virus software installed

For more details click here to download your free guide to Protecting Your Identity.



Australian Tax Office

The Australian Taxation Office is the Government’s principal revenue collection agency, and is part of the Treasurer’s portfolio. Its role is to manage and shape tax, excise and superannuation systems that fund services for Australians.

A tax file number or TFN is a nine digit number issued by the Tax Office to identify your tax records. It’s one of your most important forms of identification in Australia. It’s yours for life and keeping it secure is a good defence against identity theft.

Click here for more information from the Tax Office on identity theft and your tax file number.