 |
CIFAS enables its Members to exchange information about:
|
Individuals at heightened risk of fraud may also register their details with CIFAS using the Protective Registration Service to alert CIFAS Members that a third party has previously used (or may use) their identity fraudulently and that extra checks should be made before providing a product or service. Click here to find out more about Protective Registration
All CIFAS Members, as part of their application or claim process, advise their potential or existing customers or claimants that they will search the CIFAS databases, that they may exchange information through CIFAS, and how the information may then be used as part of their application or claim process.
CIFAS information is not used to assess an individual's ability to obtain or maintain an account, product, facility, insurance policy, benefit or employment. It is only used to prevent fraud. CIFAS is not a Credit Reference Agency.
Members of CIFAS are required to operate effective in-house procedures to enable fraud or prevented fraud to be identified and classified. Information on each case of confirmed fraud is filed on the CIFAS National Fraud Database. Basic information is then transferred electronically to a number of Participating Agencies. Members may also search the CIFAS database direct.
When a Member searches the CIFAS database, they are made aware of a potential fraud by means of a flagged warning. The Member must not automatically reject the application or claim, but must undertake sufficient checks to ensure that they are dealing with a genuine customer rather than a fraudster.
This warning does not mean that the individual has been blacklisted. It means that extra precautions should be taken to ensure that the application or claim that has prompted the check is genuine. This will protect the organisation from fraud and will also protect individuals whose details may have been used fraudulently.
CIFAS work?