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What is the National Fraud Database?
The National Fraud Database (NFD) is the central database maintained by CIFAS where member organisations record fraud markers. It is a shared system, meaning that when one organisation places a marker, all other CIFAS members can see it when they check your details.
The NFD is not the same as your credit file. It is a separate database specifically for fraud markers. Credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) hold your credit history. The NFD holds fraud markers only.
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How the NFD works
- A CIFAS member files a marker against your name and details on the NFD
- Other CIFAS members check the NFD when you apply for products or services
- If a marker is found, the checking organisation decides how to respond, often by declining your application
- Markers typically remain on the NFD for six years unless removed through a successful complaint
- You can find out what is on the NFD about you by making a Subject Access Request to CIFAS
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What data is stored on the NFD?
The NFD stores your name, date of birth, address history, and details of the marker, including the type, the filing organisation, the date it was placed, and a reference to the case. This is all personal data under UK GDPR, which means it must be accurate and you have the right to challenge inaccuracies.
Important
Because NFD data is personal data, all UK GDPR rights apply, including the right to access (Article 15), the right to rectification (Article 16), and the right to erasure (Article 17). This is the legal foundation for marker challenges.
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Who can access the NFD
Only CIFAS member organisations can access the NFD. They do so when processing applications, reviewing accounts, or investigating suspected fraud. CIFAS itself does not place markers and does not make lending or financial decisions. Its role is to manage the database and the filing standards that members must follow.
When you make a Subject Access Request to CIFAS, you are requesting the data about yourself on the NFD. CIFAS must respond within 30 calendar days under UK GDPR. The response will tell you who filed the marker, when, and which category was used.