Identity Theft
Identity theft has become an increasingly popular crime in Canada as
a result of recent advances in technology. Identity theft involves stealing,
misrepresenting or hijacking the identity of another person or business.
It is an effective means to commit other crimes. With your identity,
thieves can open new bank accounts, order cell phones, take out a mortgage
on your property and buy cars or furniture.
Watch for these signs of ID theft:
- Purchases not made by you appear on your monthly bills.
- Bills arrive on accounts you don't own.
- Collection agency calls about unknown debt.
- Credit card/bank statements don't arrive.
- Your credit report shows mystery debts.
You can minimize your risk against identity theft:
- Shred documents with personal information.
- Guard your personal information
- Never give personal information by phone, Internet or mail unless you initiate the contact.
- Shield your PIN, and never lend cards.
- Immediately report missing credit or debit cards.
- Carry only the ID you need.
- Put other ID documents (SIN, birth certificate, passport) in a safe place.
- SIN is only for employment and tax reporting.
- Ask about the security of your information at work, with businesses and charities.
- Guard your computer and its information and select a complex password of letters, numbers and symbols.
- Install firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and security software-update often.
- Don't try, don't buy and don't reply to spam or emails that ask for banking information.
- For online transactions, look for https://, a closed lock or an unbroken key icon.
- When disposing of hard drives, use overwrite software or destroy the drive.
If you need more information about ID theft:
- Call financial institutions and local police.
- Put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting Equifax:
1-866-779-6440 and
Trans Union: 1-877-525-3823, (Quebec residents: 1-877-713-3393). - To replace ID cards like health, driver's licence, SIN call 1-800 O Canada
- Contact Canada Post if your mail is missing.
- Keep records of steps taken to clear your name and re-establish your credit.
- Help stop fraud. Contact PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501 or phonebusters.com
For more information on Identity Theft visit www.ConsumerInformation.ca
IDENTITY THEFT: Recognize it. Report it. Stop it.