People fearing that their property is being used for ID fraud have been asked to alert police and the state agency responsible for identity matters.
it follows complaints from home owners saying they are getting bills from telephony companies addressed to people who have never lived there.
On Wednesday, Nationalist MP Albert Buttigieg said he suspected his property was being used for ID card fraud after he received letters addressed to people he had never heard of.
Buttigieg said he recently found four letters from the mobile service company EPIC addressed to four individuals who did not live in his Gżira property. He urged Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to order an investigation and said he would be reporting the matter to the police.
“I ask: Are these the fake ID cards that Jason Azzopardi wrote and spoke about?” Buttigieg said on Facebook.
It follows a sworn application in court by former PN MP and lawyer Jason Azzopardi, where he claimed some 18,000 identity cards had been issued based on marriage certificates and other documents fabricated by Identità officials.
The PN MP also asked whether Epic accepts applications without being shown physical ID cards.
Another person, who preferred not to be named, gave a nearly identical story, saying he received letters from Epic addressed to people who have never lived in his property.
Replying to questions, Epic said that As with other service providers across industries, it implements a vetting process which requires customers to show proof of identity and follows standard industry procedures if such complaints occur.
'Report to the police'
In a statement on Wednesday, Identità, the state agency responsible for identity matters, said property owners who receive mail addressed to individuals who do not live in their properties should contact the police.
The owner must also inform Identità’s Compliance Unit, if they believe the letters are being addressed to people who are not residents or citizens.
But Identità also said there may be various reasons why property owners receive mail addressed to people who do not live at their properties
These include the tenant failing to notify the agency or private companies of a change of address or the property owner failing to submit a De-Registration Form, or persons deceptively and illegally making use of the address.
The agency reminded property owners of their legal obligations to register and de-register rentals and stressed that a De-Registration Form should be submitted by property owners after the tenant has vacated the property.
Following a change of address, foreign tenants should also regularise their presence in Malta and submit a Change of Address form, declaring their new address. Their residence permit could otherwise be revoked, the agency said.
The agency also pointed out that as from September 1, 2024, any property lease contract submitted with a residence permit application must be signed by a notary, lawyer, or legal procurator.
Service providers urged to verify addresses
Identita urged companies and service providers to verify clients addresses when a service is requested.
"Identità declares that it cannot be held liable when false or fraudulent information is intentionally provided to businesses, entities, or local suppliers," it said.
Last March, two Indian nationals were charged with submitting forged lease documents to Identita after the owner of a Naxxar apartment testified that the pair did not live there.
However, magistrate Yana Micallef Stafrace acquitted the two after concluding that they were unaware the documents they handed to Identità were false.
The man who allegedly set up the forged leasing documents, Anil Kumar Ghanta, was an agent who charged the pair thousands to migrate to Malta.
Ghanta has been charged in India with criminal breach of trust, forgery, and cheating related to the manipulation of funds.