Has my identity been stolen?

Unfortunately, identity theft is more and more common nowadays. Therefore, it is crucial to be aware of certain warning signs that could indicate our information is being stolen. The protection of our identity is of utmost importance.

There are currently several ways to carry out identity theft:

1. Unauthorised access to personal accounts. The cyber criminals use tactics such as phishing, and send false emails that appear to be from your bank or from another trusted entity. If you follow the instructions given in the false email, you would be allowing access to your information and even enabling malicious code to be installed in your personal computer or mobile phone, which could give them control over these devices.
2. Another method is the creation of fake profiles. By using your personal data, such as your name, address or DNI or ID, someone could create profiles in social media or other platforms, and pretend to be you to carry out fraudulent activities. This information may have been obtained by phishing, or due to loss of documentation or by capturing the credit card information, for example.

How can I know my identity has been stolen?

To detect identity theft can be complicated, and it usually starts with unusual situations. Therefore, it is important to stay alert and to pay attention to key details:

• Purchases you have not made are registered in your account.
• You receive notifications in social media or on your phone from unknown people or entities that you are not related to.
• Someone from your contacts tells you about a strange email received from your email address.
• You notice strange activities in your voice assistant, such as devices being switched on and off uninstructed..
• You receive sign-in notifications from your accounts when you have not signed in.
• A debt collector claims payment for a debt you have not contracted.
• You notice strange changes in your balance, such as increases that disappear after a few hours, which you might consider to be mistakes.
• Your bank credit allowance increases without you requesting it.

These signs could be due to your identity being stolen, which calls for immediate action.

What should I do to report identity theft?

Identity theft is a serious crime and it must be reported to the authorities as soon as you suspect that someone is using your personal information to pretend to be you. If you find yourself in this situation, please follow these steps:

• Contact the police immediately so that they can investigate. Please provide all the available proof, such as screenshots of fraudulent emails, notifications about unauthorised access to your accounts, reports of trusted witnesses, etc.
• If you have been a victim of identity theft in social media, contact the administrators of the service to notify this and to request collaboration with the authorities to locate those responsible of the crime of identity theft or phishing.
• If the administrators do not respond, or fail to act, report this to the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) so that they can intervene, eliminate the information and take legal action against those responsible.

Please remember that it is imperative to act quickly to minimise the damage and to protect your identity. Do not hesitate to seek legal advice for further guidance during this process.

How can I stay protected against identity theft?

If you wish to protect yourself against identity theft, please follow this security advice:

1. Never trust emails that appear to be sent by important entities and which request your personal information. These entities never ask for confidential information by email.
2. Use strong passwords and change these on regular basis. Make sure to use unique combinations of letters, numbers and special characters, and avoid using personal information which is easy to guess.
3. Avoid accessing suspicious web sites and do not trust links or attached files in unrequested emails.
4. Be cautious about the content you share online, in social media and other web sites. Make sure to adjust your privacy configuration adequately and limit your public personal information.
5. Stay up to date and seek security advice from trusted sources, such as the Internet User Security Office and other specialised IT security institutions.

Grupo Telecable is highly committed with cyber security and therefore we wish to highlight that the protection of your identity is essential in the digital world. Pick up safe usage routines and stay alert about possible threats, this will help to keep your personal information safe.