Consumers `worried` about personal details

20 March 2008

Consumers have been warned to protect their details in order to ensure their personal finances remain secret.

According to the deputy commissioner of the Information Commissioner`s Office (ICO), David Smith, consumers are increasingly concerned about the security of personal information.

Indeed, many people have found they had run into banking problems or had been refused credit as a result of identity fraud.

Mr Smith`s advice is for people not to panic, as consumers will need to share their personal details from time to time.

However, there are some precautions, such as asking the organisation why they need information and also to make sure they know who they are dealing with before sharing details.

"That phone call you get that says you have won a prize competition as long as you give a load of personal information before you are sent the prize – that`s too good to be true and if it is too good to be true, it`s probably wrong," Mr Smith commented.

His advice is to use "some common sense" when it comes to such situations.

ICO research suggests nearly eight in ten people are more worried now that they used to be about how their personal details are handled.

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