From next Friday, you will be able to reserve your PESEL number – the communications office of the Ministry of Digitization informed TVN24 Biznes. As explained, this is, among other things, to provide preventive protection against the consequences of identity theft.
President Andrzej Duda in July this year signed an act amending certain acts to limit certain effects of identity theft. The new regulations will allow you to reserve your PESEL number.
Restricting the PESEL number – from when?
This service will be available from next Friday, November 17.
“It will be possible to reserve the PESEL number from November 17, 2023.” – the communications office of the Ministry of Digitization told TVN24 Biznes.
How can I reserve my PESEL number?
Any adult PESEL number holder will be able to reserve and withdraw the PESEL number using the mObywatel application.
“You can reserve your PESEL number or withdraw your reservation after logging in to the website mobywatel.gov.pl,” we read in the response sent to us. This can also be done in person at the commune office.
How much will it cost?
Importantly – as the Ministry of Digital Affairs reminds – blocking the PESEL number and withdrawing the blocking will be free of charge.
What is the purpose of the changes?
The Ministry explained that the purpose of the changes is:
- providing preventive protection against the consequences of identity theft,
- obliging certain entities to verify disclaimers for activities most at risk of identity theft,
- enabling disclaimer verification to strengthen your own identity verification processes,
- removing the burden of proof from a person who has been a victim of a crime to prove that he or she was not the one who incurred the obligation.
According to the authors of the regulations, citizens will be protected in this way against fraudsters incurring financial obligations on their data, such as loans and credits, or against telecommunications companies issuing duplicates of their SIM cards.
Paweł Lewandowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Digitization, explained during parliamentary proceedings that entities such as banks, credit institutions or notaries, before concluding a contract or taking action, will have to check in the register whether the PESEL number of a given person has been reserved.
Main photo source: Shutterstock