Key takeaways

  • A CIFAS marker is a record on the National Fraud Database, filed by a Cifas member such as a bank or lender.
  • It lasts for up to six years from the date it was recorded.
  • It does not usually appear on your credit report, which is why many people only find out when an account is closed.
  • Checking is free: you can ask Cifas for a copy of what it holds on you.

What Cifas is

Cifas is a not-for-profit fraud prevention agency. It runs the National Fraud Database, which its member organisations — banks, building societies, lenders, insurers and others — use to share information about fraud and financial crime. The Financial Ombudsman Service describes it as the largest fraud prevention agency in the UK.

A “CIFAS marker” is the everyday name for an entry filed against a person on that database.

Who files a marker, and on what grounds

A marker is filed by the member organisation, not by Cifas itself. The member must have reasonable grounds to believe that fraud or financial crime has been committed or attempted, and the evidence behind the filing should be clear, relevant and rigorous. Suspicion or concern alone is not supposed to be enough.

Each marker records a case type and the reasons for filing. You can see both, along with who filed it, by asking Cifas for a copy of what it holds on you.

How long a marker lasts

A marker filed against you can be held for up to six years in the Cifas database. See how long a CIFAS marker lasts.

“Victim” markers are different. If your identity was used by a fraudster, a Victim of Impersonation or Victim of Takeover marker may be added to protect you. These last 13 months from the date of submission.

Why it matters

Other Cifas members can see the marker when you apply to them. That is why a marker can lead to:

  • an existing bank account being closed
  • new account, credit card, loan or mortgage applications being declined
  • difficulty with some insurance and phone contracts
Why you may not have been told

A credit report only shows Cifas victim markers, because Cifas is not a credit reference agency. So a marker filed against you will not normally show up on a credit check, and many people only find out when a bank closes their account without much explanation.

What to do next

If you think you have a marker, the first step is to find out exactly what has been recorded, by whom and why. That is free — see how to check if you have a CIFAS marker. If it is wrong, see how to get a CIFAS marker removed.