October 01, 2026 - 235 views
People across North Wales are being urged to take simple steps to protect their personal information online as a new campaign highlights the growing risks of identity theft.
Get Safe Online, North Wales Police and Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin have joined forces to provide advice on how people can keep their personal details safe and reduce the risk of becoming victims of fraud.
The campaign is being delivered across North Wales through Get Safe Online, a service commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police.
Organisers say criminals can build up a picture of someone's identity by collecting small pieces of information from social media, emails and other sources.
Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, said identity information is used for everything from proving someone's age to applying for a passport, loan or mobile phone contract.
He warned that much identity theft begins online, with criminals gathering information that people have shared publicly.
Residents are being advised to think carefully before posting personal information such as birthdays, pet names and family details, which could potentially be used to guess passwords.
People should also avoid posting photographs of passports, driving licences or other sensitive documents online.
Other advice includes using a different, strong password for every account, keeping email accounts particularly secure and making sure phones, computers and apps are regularly updated.
Anyone receiving a request for personal information should check that it is genuine before providing details. If there is any doubt, people are advised to contact the organisation involved using a telephone number or website they already know to be genuine.
Residents are also being encouraged to check their credit report regularly so they can spot accounts or financial agreements that they did not apply for.
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said personal information is one of people's most valuable assets and urged residents to take simple precautions to protect themselves from fraud and cybercrime.
Detective Sergeant David Buckley, from North Wales Police's Cyber Crime Team, said a compromised password could give criminals access to a person's wider digital life.
The campaign's advice is particularly relevant as more everyday services move online, with residents encouraged to think carefully about what they share, use strong unique passwords and keep an eye on their accounts.
More advice on protecting yourself from identity theft is available through Get Safe Online.
