What to do after ID-fraud
If you suspect that you might be a victim of ID-fraud, you need to take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to map the extent of the fraud that has already happened. You can follow our list of recommended actions to take, but do not hesitate to contact The ID Lawyer if you suspect that you are exposed to fraud and need help!
You are not bound by agreements (for example loan agreements, credit card agreements, or purchase agreements) that a fraudster enters in your name. However, you might still be liable for the resulting loss to the bank or other creditors if you have not been as careful as you should have to prevent or limit the fraud. It is therefore very important that you act by following these steps as soon as you suspect that you have been scammed:
1. Notify the bank that you have been scammed
Contact the bank immediately if you know or suspect that you are exposed ID-fraud. Tell the bank to stop all recent transfers. Close the accounts that are, or might be, related to unauthorized transactions, and request written confirmation that the account has been closed. Look at the debt registries (see point 6) to figure out which other banks other than your main bank you should contact and notify.
2. Change all passwords and block BankID and / or your credit card
Contact the bank that issued your BankID chip or credit card. Explain that you are a victim of ID-fraud and therefore need to block your BankID or credit card. This is very important! Or else the fraudster will be able to sign more agreements in your name. By logging in with BankID on the website www.bankid.no, you can get an overview of how many BankIDs have been issued in your name, and what banks have issued them.
3. Report the fraud to the police
To report ID-fraud, you must show up at a police station. You can find the nearest police station on the police website www.politiet.no. If you have a suspicion of who the scammers are, or how the scams happened, it is important to tell this to the police. Ask the police for written confirmation that you have reported the matter.
4. Check if you are insured against ID-fraud
Contact your insurance company to find out if your insurance covers ID-fraud. Many are insured against ID-fraud without knowing it, for example through their contents insurance. This kind of insurance will cover both practical clean-up after the fraud and provide access to legal assistance.
5. Register credit block
By registering a credit block, creditors (like banks) cannot assess your credit ratings or give credit, such as a loan or a credit card in your name. This protects you against further ID-fraud. There are five companies that can help you create a credit block: Bislab AS, Dun & Bradstreet (formerly Bisnode), Tietoevry, Creditsafe, and Experian. Contact the companies via their websites to create a credit block.
6.Check the debt registers
By checking the debt registers, you can get an overview of all the unsecured loans in your name. This will also give you an overview of how extensive the scam is. There are currently two debt registers: www.gjeldsregisteret.com and www.norskgjeld.no. We recommend that you check both sites. Remember that these registers only provide an overview of unsecured loans and are not an exhaustive list of all the credit that may have been obtained in your name.
7. Ask the banks for more information
To get an overview of the ID-fraud, it is important to ask the banks how the loans were obtained. We suggest you ask the bank the following questions:
- When and how was the debt established? Is it a loan agreement that has been signed in your name, or a credit card that has been created which then has been used by the fraudsters? Has the BankID been used, and has the BankID password been given? Ask the bank to send you the original loan application.
- What IP address was used to establish the debt? The bank that issued your BankID must contact BankID BankAxept, who can store information about the IP address. The police will later be able to retrieve the information from BankID BankAxept.
- What account was the loan paid to? Has the fraudster opened an account in the bank in your name, then transferred the money to themself, or has the bank transferred the money directly to the fraudster’s account? Is there a promissory note?
- Who manages the debt now? Have the payment claims been forwarded to a debt collection company, The bailiff, or the Conciliation Board? Are there any attachments of earnings in this case? Are there any conciliation board judgments in the case?
8. Carefully monitor that the mail arrives as normal
If you suspect that someone has changed your mailing address, you should contact Post immediately to change it back. You can also register a block that your mailing address cannot be changed online (again). This can be done by calling Post, they will send you a form that you fill out and deliver at the post office. Future redirection of your mailing address can then only be done by physically showing up at the post office and identifying yourself.