25th May 2023

What to do if a scammer has your address in the UK

Our addresses are one of the personal details we are happy to share. For many reasons, we need our address to be public knowledge. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to receive mail. Plus, a number of key documents have our address on them. 

Fortunately, an address alone can't be used against you by scammers. 

How does a scammer know my address?

There are a number of ways someone looking to defraud or scam you could get your address. They could visit your property, look for a parcel or mail outside the property, or go through your recycling for letters. 

Thankfully, having your address is not an issue. But it’s important not to recycle items like bank statements or bills, as these can include not only your address but also ID codes or other ways to identify you to a bank or utilities supplier. 

Can a scammer do anything with your address?

With your address alone, there’s not much they can do. 

But scammers could use your address alongside other personal details like your name, mobile number and job title to build up a profile of you. 

This is called social engineering - a form of scam whereby people build up a profile of someone and use it to either fake an identity or send messages demanding money. This is why you need to be careful which websites you use and when replying to emails or texts you’re not familiar with. 

If they aim to create a fake identity, they could use these details to open bank accounts in your name and use the overdraft facilities or get a loan. 

If the aim is to get money from you, they could send mail - or other forms of messages such as email or text - that look legitimate. They make it feel more real by showing they have your address and phone number. 

But note that no bank or official government body will email, mail or text you demanding money be paid immediately. If you get a message from what appears to be real but you’re worried, go online and find the phone number for that company and call it direct. Don’t call any numbers within the message you’re suspicious about.  

Another approach is the fake delivery scam. You will receive an email or text saying they tried to deliver a parcel to your address. They might include your address information here to make it appear more legitimate. You will then be asked to click a link to redeliver your package. These links will either ask for your personal data or download a virus to your computer or phone. 

Other ways scammers might use your home address would be to send fake prize draws, lottery wins or other scams. The rule of thumb is that if someone is offering you something too good to be true, it’s probably not true. 

What to do if a scammer has your address

Nothing. There’s not much a scammer can do with just your address. Simply be wary of any suspicious mail. 

But if you think that scammers have your address alongside other identifying details, and that you might be the victim of identity theft or fraud, you can report it. The Information Commissioners Office suggests that you:

• Report lost or stolen documents – these include anything with your address like passports and driving licences.

• Let your bank know – and monitor any unusual transactions on your statement.

• Ask for a credit file – this can flag any suspicious credit applications, such as scammers applying for a loan or credit card in your name.

• Speak to the police – If you think documents have been stolen, report the theft. You can also tell the police of any suspicious credit applications.

• Contact the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service - you can apply for what is called protective registration. 

At ukphonebook.com, we understand how important it is to be careful with people’s data. That’s why we allow anyone, who wants to hide their details, to be removed from the website. We also strictly follow all GDPR regulations. We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service following changes to European data protection law. We have also introduced new and improved account settings to give our customers more control over their data and marketing preferences.