Combating financial crimes with Expertise, Integrity and Collaboration

🆔Identity Theft

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft happens when a criminal steals your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, current or previous address, and uses it to commit fraud — opening cards and loans in your name or attempting to claim state benefits.

Criminals steal identities in various ways, including going through your mail for old bank statements, setting up mail redirection without your knowledge, or using social media to build a profile about you.

How to Protect Yourself?

Regularly check your bank statements for transactions you do not recognize.
If you receive a letter or email about a loan or card you did not apply for, call your bank immediately.
Review your online privacy settings and consider what personal or financial information you share.
If you lose your card, driver's license, or passport, report them missing immediately to the issuing authority.
Shred unnecessary documents containing personal or financial information.
Be careful about who has access to your mail.

Examples

Real Case: Stolen identity used to take out a loan — A young man from Sofia stole another person's profile and took out a €25,000 loan in their name using their personal data. The perpetrator was identified and brought to criminal justice.
- Quick Tip: Regularly check your credit score and bank statements for unrecognized loans in your name.
Real Case: Credit fraud using stolen personal data — Detectives from Shumen and Pleven detained two men found with documents belonging to other individuals, which were used to execute credit fraud.
- Quick Tip: Keep your personal documents safe and report their loss or theft immediately to the relevant authority.

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