News

IDENTITY THEFT ALERT AFTER PERSONAL DETAILS FOUND ON SEAFRONT

Residents are being warned of the dangers of binning personal details after a number of householders had they personal information dumped on Deal seafront.

Kent Police and Dover District Council issued warning following an investigation by the council's Environmental Health team.

The Environmental Health team wrote to 47 householders when personal information was found in flytipped waste between 24 September and 10 October. Following investigation, it is accepted that this waste was not flytipped by these householders. The team is now warning householders it is possible their household waste was targeted to gain personal details.

People are advised not to put household waste out until the appropriate time for collection, and to be vigilant when throwing away anything that could contain personal information.

If anyone is the victim of identity theft they should contact the Police. For more information on identity theft and protecting yourself, please log onto the Home Office website at www.identity-theft.org.uk .

Home Office advice is do not throw away entire bills, receipts, credit or debit-card slips, bank statements or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder. Your identity and personal information are valuable. Criminals can find out your personal details and use them to open bank accounts and get credit cards, loans, state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licences in your name.