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What is a protective registration?
A protective registration is a positive CIFAS marker that you can place on your own record. Unlike fraud markers (which are placed against you by institutions), a protective registration is placed at your request to protect you from further identity fraud.
When a protective registration is active, any organisation checking the NFD will see a flag indicating that your identity may be at risk. This prompts them to carry out additional verification before processing applications, helping to prevent fraudsters from using your details.
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Who should consider a protective registration?
- Victims of identity theft who want to prevent further misuse
- People who have had personal data exposed in a data breach
- Anyone who has lost identity documents
- People who have been targeted by fraudsters
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How to apply
You can apply for a protective registration directly through the CIFAS website. There is a small fee for the registration, which lasts for a set period. The registration does not negatively affect your credit or access to services, it adds protection rather than creating barriers.
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Protective registration and fraud marker challenges
If you have a wrongly filed fraud marker and you are also a victim of identity theft, both issues may need to be addressed separately. The fraud marker challenge goes to the filing institution. The protective registration is applied for directly through CIFAS and provides additional verification requirements for future applications in your name.
Having a protective registration does not automatically remove an adverse fraud marker. They are separate records with separate purposes. But they can be used together to protect your position while the fraud marker challenge is in progress.