Adrian Waters, a 64-year-old retiree from Banbury, Oxfordshire, discovered he was a victim of identity fraud in June 2023 upon receiving unsolicited credit cards and PINs in the mail. Initially perplexed, Adrian soon realized the severity of the situation when his credit score revealed over 40 credit cards taken out in his name. Despite immediately contacting the police, he was informed that the credit card companies, not he, were considered the victims. Identity fraud, a growing crime in the UK, affects many who never discover how their details were stolen. Adrian faced the arduous task of contacting each credit card company to rectify the fraudulent applications, an ordeal that was both time-consuming and stressful. Statistics reveal that a significant portion of the UK population is unaware of their credit scores, potentially leaving them vulnerable to such scams. After three grueling months, Adrian finally managed to reverse the fraudulent credit searches and restore his credit score.
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