Anybody within the UK who has a Nationwide Insurance coverage Quantity have been issued an pressing warning
The Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a warning to anybody with a Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity. Many fraudsters could also be taking a look at a myriad of how to to steal your private info with the important thing aim of stealing your id.
Reportedly, prior to now six months of 2025 alone, there have been 118,000 reported instances of id theft all through the UK. Fraudsters who steal victims’ identities can use that info to take out loans and even make insurance coverage claims of their title.
The DWP has said that one simple approach victims can fall for giving freely their private particulars like their Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity is by placing an excessive amount of info on their CV. Whereas it is essential for a CV to have some private info on when making use of for a job, employers ought to by no means ask you to place your Nationwide Insurance coverage Quantity on it.
Writing on X, the DWP mentioned: “Fraudsters search for private particulars to steal your id Don’t share your full deal with, date of start or Nationwide Insurance coverage quantity in your CV”
Recruitment scams
One other widespread employment and recruitment rip-off launched by fraudsters entails contacting individuals who have positioned a CV or their private particulars by means of on-line job websites. Fraudsters posing as a pretend employer could faux to supply victims a job.
Nonetheless, in some instances, the pretend employer will say that there could also be charges that must be paid as a part of the employment course of, and should even refer the individual to a supposed company for these charges. Nonetheless, in actuality, all charges paid which might be supposed to assist with the job are simply going straight into the scammers pocket.
Easy steps to keep away from scammers
Listed below are some fast checks everybody can carry out frequently to establish and keep away from potential scams.
By no means disclose your monetary or private particulars
Keep away from sharing your private or monetary info with anybody. This contains refraining from jotting down your banking particulars.
In the event you can commit your info to reminiscence, that is the most secure method, however when you do want to notice down your particulars, guarantee they’re saved in a safe place and never carried round when purchasing. Respected retailers won’t ever request your PIN, CVC quantity or different on-line banking identifiers.
Recurrently overview your financial institution assertion
In the event you spot an unfamiliar transaction, it is essential to inform your financial institution immediately to have the cardboard blocked. Most banks function a devoted fraud motion line, the place you possibly can report the theft and ask for a refund.
Hold tabs in your playing cards
In the event you misplace any of your financial institution playing cards or suspect they have been stolen, it’s best to get in contact along with your financial institution instantly to allow them to freeze it.
Many banks now let you do that by way of their app relatively than phoning up, which might expedite the method. It could be useful to have your financial institution’s contact particulars and cellphone quantity at hand, so you possibly can attain out to them if vital.
Be cautious of suspicious emails or texts
Keep away from responding to textual content messages or emails when you’re unsure of their authenticity. A strong rule of thumb is to by no means disclose non-public, private info.
This contains particulars comparable to your checking account info or passwords; no legit firm ought to ever request these.
Emails or texts with grammatical errors can usually point out a phishing rip-off from an illegitimate supply, so it is best to keep away from opening these.
Keep away from clicking on suspicious hyperlinks
Chorus from clicking on any hyperlinks when you’re uncertain of their legitimacy.
Keep away from downloading something despatched to you by way of electronic mail or textual content. It is advisable to have antivirus software program put in, which can scan for malware and safeguard in opposition to phishing assaults.
