Are you covered for what you carry?
Keys, cash, cards, MP3 players, I-Pods, BlackBerry’s, mobile phones . . . the value of what we carry around with us can quickly add up.
Our second consumer insight article looks at Personal Property crime and what you can do to prevent it
- Top tips for looking after your personal property
- Identity Fraud and how to prevent it
Identity Fraud and how to prevent it?
Identity theft is one of the UK’s fastest growing crimes – and has been rising steadily since the start of the century. ID thief’s access bank accounts, run up huge bills, launder money, carry out benefit fraud and take out fraudulent loans. Although still a relatively rare crime incidences of ID theft have increased 5 fold in the last 5 years and accounts for a criminal cash flow of over 10m every day. Many crimes are opportunistic preying on unattended handbags, carelessly discarded private documents and easy access to shared mailboxes.
Minimise the risk
- Consider using mail preference service to limit the amount of unwanted mail you receive
- Collect bank cards from local bank if you live somewhere where other people can access your mail
- Check statements as soon as they arrive. If any unfamiliar transactions are listed contact the company immediately.
- Don’t give personal or account details to anyone who contacts you unexpectedly. Ask for their phone number first and then check it’s genuine.
- Don’t record or store passwords or addresses in your purse or wallet or diary.
- Remember Banks will never ask you for your pin or a whole security number
- Never use banking passwords on other website
Top Tips
- Think about your route especially if you’re on your own
- Keep your bags where you can see them make sure your purse or wallet can’t be seen
- Don’t carry large amounts of cash
- Spread your valuables – keep your mobile phone separate from your wallet and your keys separate from your credit card
- Cover up expensive jewellery
- Carry your house keys with you, not in your bag
- Have your house keys to hand so you can get in the door easily
- Be discreet – talking on your mobile, having your I-pod visible or carrying a lap top with you all show thieves you have things worth taking
- Be extra careful at tube, train and bus stations, at cash points and in overcrowded areas
- Mark your property – it puts thieves off and help protect it
- Keep your credit/debit cards separated from cheque books
- Don’t pass on pin numbers to anyone and don’t leave cards behind bars or counters – staff could copy the details
- When entering pins cover the keypad with your free hand
- If cards are stolen cancel your cards immediately
Harmony Personal Possessions Cover
Our flagship Household product, Harmony, provides cover for unspecified personal possessions with single article limits of up to £2,500. This means that you do not have to take the trouble to separately identify all your personal possessions and their respective values but that provided none of your unspecified items has a value in excess of £2,500 then you will be covered in the event of loss and/or theft.