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Identity Theft
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| | Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in North America. Between September 2001 and April 2002, there were over 3880 reports of identity theft in Canada alone, with reported losses of over $4.6 million. It happens when someone steals your personal information - your social insurance number, driver's license number, health card number, credit card number, debit card, or your PIN number.
Criminals get this information in a number of ways including stealing your cards, posing as an employer, credit union or utility company employee, grabbing information from web sites that are not secure, sorting through garbage, or using devious ways to find out you PIN number. It can happen to anyone. In the course of a busy day people use an ATM to get money for groceries, charge tickets to a hockey game, mail their tax returns, call home on their cell phones or apply for a new credit card. WE don't give these everyday transactions a second thought. But someone else does - someone who is interested in using these everyday transactions to steal your personal information and use it to commit fraud or theft.
How Identity Thieves Get Your Personal Information
- They steal wallets and purses containing your identification, credit and debit cards
- They steal your mail, including your debit and credit card statements, pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information
- They complete a change of address form to divert your mail to another location
- They rummage through your garbage or the garbage of businesses for personal data
- They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord, employer or someone else who may have a legitimate or legal right to the information
- They get your business or personnel records at work
- They find personal information in your home
- They use personal information your share on the Internet
- They buy your personal information from "inside" sources. Ex: dishonest store employee.
How Identity Thieves Use Your Personal Information
They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to increase your credit limit and to change the mailing address on your credit card account. The thief then runs up charges on your account and because the bills are being sent to another address, it may take some time before you know there's a problem.
They open a new credit card account using your name, date of birth and SIN number. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent account is reported on your credit report.
- They establish phone or Internet service in your name
- They open a bank account in your name and write bad cheques on that account
- They counterfeit cheques or debit cards and drain your account
- They buy cars by taking out car loans in your name
- They mortgage your home
Take Steps to Protect Your Personal Identity
If you have several debit cards and credit cards, carry only those that you need. Leave the others at home in a safe place
Sign your cards immediately
Don't carry your social insurance card or birth certificate with you and don't give out the number unless it's absolutely required. Keep it in a secure, safe place
Don't attach or write your PIN number or social insurance number on anything you are going to discard, such as transaction records or scraps of paper
Shred any document that contains your debit card or credit card number before you discard it
Check your receipts to make sure they belong to you and not someone else
Don't give personal information or account number to anyone until you have confirmed the identity of the person asking for it. You should also ask how the information will be used and whether it will be shared with anyone else. Ask if you have a choice about providing personal identifying information and, if you can, choose to keep it confidential
Frequently check your credit report so you're aware of any charges or unusual activity. Credit information can be obtained once a year at no charge from Equifax Canada at http://www.equifax.ca or 1-800-465-7166,Trans Union of Canada at http://www.tuc.ca or 1-800-663-9980 or Experience at 1-888-826-1718
Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover their tracks
Guard your mail from theft. Promptly remove your mail from the mail box and notify Canada Post to hold your mail if you're going to be away for some time
Protect your computer with a good firewall and anti-virus software. Take advantage of technologies that enhance security and privacy when using the Internet, such a using digital signatures, data encryption, and different ways of making the information anonymous
Avoid posting personal information on publicly accessible web sites and on-line bulletin boards
Give your social insurance number only when it's absolutely necessary. Don't include your social insurance number and other sensitive personal information in on-line resumes
When you register for certain web sites, use strong passwords and avoid words that are easy to guess. Don't use the same password for different sites and don't store your password in your computer
Be wary of on-line offers from web site you don't know and trust
Shred outdated bills, tax documents and other sensitive information.
Take Action Immediately If You Suspect Identity Theft
Call your Credit Union immediately, call 1-800-LOST111 (1-800-567-8111), if you suspect you have been a victim of identity theft or if there is unusual activity in any of your accounts. This service is available seven days a week. We can provide advice on what to do with your credit cards accounts, financial accounts and investments with your Credit Union.
To report a lost or stolen credit card , call 1-800-LOST-111 (1-800-567-8111), or if outside North America call collect at 1-306-566-1276.
To report a lost or stolen debit card? call 1-800-LOST-111 (1-800-567-8111), or call (306) 566-1276 collect
Call the police and file a report. Ask for a copy of the police report.
Change your PIN immediately.
Contact each credit grantor who has allowed a fraudulent account and tell them you did not open that account. Have them close these accounts.
Call the Credit Bureaus to check for recent activity and to inform:
Equifax Canada at http://www.equifax.ca 1-800-465-7166
Trans Union of Canada at http://www.tuc.ca or 1-800-663-9980
Experience at 1-888-826-1718
Contact Canada Post
if someone is diverting your mail. Document all the contacts you make along with dates, names and phone numbers.
Don't fall for a prize-winning scam. A call says you won a big lottery prize but you must send money before you can collect it. It's a fraud and you'll lose your money! Hang up and call PhoneBusters, The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, www.phonebusters.com.
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