Postbox thieves steal Tickton man's identity

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Postbox thieves steal Tickton man's identity in credit card scam

AN EAST Riding businessman became the victim of identity theft after someone stole his post and racked up £8,000 of debt in his name.

Neil Firth, 37, believes someone stole post from the mailbox at the bottom of his garden and used confidential information, such as bank account details, to take out credit cards.

Mr Firth, of Hull Bridge Road, Tickton, near Beverley, noticed he had not been receiving much post for a few weeks, but dismissed his concerns, because it was around the time of the postal strikes.

Then, about a month later, in November, he began to receive letters from various banks thanking him for opening credit cards with them, and asking for belated verification of some of the payments and details.

By this time, someone had spent £7,000 on a Post Office credit card, £600 on a Barclaycard and a small amount on a Halifax credit card. They had also tried to open a second Barclaycard.

Mr Firth said: "I have a mail box at the bottom of my drive and, even though it is locked up, you could get your hand in the top and take out larger envelopes.

"I had noticed I hadn't been receiving my post for a while, but I put that down to the strikes.

"When I started receiving post again, I had letters informing me about the new credit cards that had been opened online."

It is thought those responsible for the fraud must have returned to the postbox at Mr Firth's house to collect the new credit cards after they had been sent to the address.

On the Post Office credit card, someone had withdrawn £300 a day at Driffield, Hessle and Beverley, over a period of a month.

Mr Firth said: "The Post Office said they called me to check if it was legitimate, but, quite clearly, it was not my phone number on the credit card application form, it was the person's committing the fraud.

"I am flabbergasted it is so easy to open an account online in someone else's name.

"All it seemed to take was my name, address and date of birth, which they got from my mail.

"Ironically, the Post Office has now asked to see my driving licence and passport before I can close the account."

Mr Firth said during the postal strikes, a stand-in postman delivered the post direct through his letter box. This was when Mr Firth was first alerted to the cards opened fraudulently in his name.

Halifax and Barclaycard have now cancelled the bills owed on the credit cards, but the Post Office continue to send Mr Firth reminders for his outstanding £7,000 balance, while its fraud team investigates.

Detective Inspector Paul Welton, of Humberside Police's economic crime unit, said: "If there are signs of a fraudulent bank card being taken out under your name, contact the credit card company or bank to report it. Any suspects or trends will be passed on to the police for investigation."