BT Identity Support, which will now come as standard with BT Broadband options 2, 3 and 4, offers advice on how to reduce the chances of becoming a victim when online or offline, recognises the warning signs of identity theft and gets help and support from the BT Identity Advice Line . The professional advisors at the BT Identity Advice Line are also able to support victims of identity theft in resolving their case, including providing letter templates to help resolve issues with creditors.
The second new service is BT Identity Protection, which BT says is one of the most comprehensive online insurance and advice packages available today. Customers choosing to take out the policy, which costs from £44.99, are covered for up to £50,000 for the cost of restoring their identity, and receive a personal caseworker, passport and driving license replacement cover. The service also provides credit monitoring so BT can let customers know if it believes someone is trying to steal their identity.
Meanwhile, BT has also launched BT Digital Vault, a secure online storage service for any content on a customer’s home computer. If a PC hard disk crashes – perhaps as a result of one of the 100,000 known computer viruses - or if a computer is stolen, Digital Vault ensures that important personal content is not lost – as BT will back-up the data for the customer.
Gavin Patterson, Group Managing Director Consumer, BT, said: “Identity theft has become a very real threat to all internet users. One in four people in the UK has been a victim of it or knows someone who has, and our research shows it’s currently costing the UK £1.7 billion each year.
“It is increasingly important that customers are aware of the online security threats they may face and use the tools they are provided with to ensure they continue to have an enjoyable and safe internet experience. With our new security packages and services, we hope that customers can begin to feel safer and more confident when using their broadband connection,” Patterson concluded.