How to find out if your identity has been stolen

It’s easy to fall for the hype.

Take Britney Spears. She's the most read-about person in modern history but, let's be honest, she ain't the best singer of our time.

Likewise in the the financial world, the big story of the moment is identity fraud.

And if you believe all the hype surrounding that you could quite easily end up living alone in a cave outside Hull with only your shredding machine and sudoku book for company as you tuck into another meal of your own junk mail and bank statements.

After all, eating documents containing your personal information is the only sensible way of fighting identity theft, isn't it?

Actually no. There is another way. It's free and it's available courtesy of This is Money.

Here's how it works and how you should use it...

1. Visit www.thisismoney.co.uk/idprotection.
2. Follow the links to the free trial
3. Sign up for your free 30-day trial
4. Read through and print out all the useful information about you and your credit history and credit report.
5. Dip back in over the next few days to make sure you haven't missed anything.
6. Phone up and cancel on 0800 656 9000.

By signing up for the free trial you will be able to see what credit cards, loans and mortgages you have applied for and how well you are doing at paying off those you still have.

More importantly, you will be able to see whether anyone else is applying for credit in your name. And that's where this becomes such a useful tool in the fight against ID fraud. Because if someone is pretending to be you, you will be able to see straight away. And you can put a stop to it.

Frankly, if I was going to steal someone's identity I'd go for Brad Pitt or Mick Jagger but it doesn't work like that. It is much more likely to be you or me who is picked on by the crooks.

In fact, I know that it isn't me. Because when my debit card was used fraudulently recently I followed steps 1-6 above and was able to see that my ID was intact. It's a big relief.

So go on try it. It really is free for 30 days and it's an impressive tool.

Oh, and if anyone knows any terminally worried East-coast cave dwellers please forward this tip to them before they tuck in to their own birth certificate.

In spite of the hype, ID fraud is not the end of the world and there is something you can do about it.

Richard Browning - This is Money

Useful link

www.thisismoney.co.uk/idprotection

If you sign up for this free trial, don't worry about the personal details you are asked for. These are merely to show that you are who you say you are when you sign up - and will not be used for any marketing, credit referencing or other purpose. If you're ex-directory, you must still enter your phone number on the application form but it will, obviously, remain a secret.

If you don't cancel within 30 days you will be charged a rolling monthly £5.99 fee. For this you get ongoing membership and extras such as an email alert service that will warn you every time a bank or other financial institution is checking your credit details - or if someone is applying for credit in your name.