Identity theft: a serious matter!

Criminals will stop at nothing to get their hands on their potential victims’ private information. They can steal someone’s wallet or purse, spy on their ATM transactions, send out “phishing” e-mail messages, and even root through their garbage looking for information they might find valuable. They can then use that precious data to make online purchases, apply for passports, open bank accounts, apply for loans, etc.—and often, the victim remains blissfully unaware of all the machinations being committed at their expense. According to a survey conducted by the Quebec Public Security Ministry, card cloning appears to the largest problem as regards the theft of personal information. In fact, in cases where victims were able to pinpoint how the fraud artists managed to access their information, card cloning was the source nearly 40% of the time. 

How to lower the risk of identity theft

Fortunately, there are many ways for you to prevent identity theft and, in turn, the use of your private information for fraudulent purposes.

• Carefully safeguard your personal information: don’t disclose it online, and shred any documents that contain key information.
• Watch out for “phishing” scams and other fraudulent uses of e-mail. Some criminals are very skilled at impersonation, so it’s best to check with your financial institution if you’re in doubt. Never send your PIN or your credit card or bank account numbers to anyone by e-mail, and make sure your computer has effective, up-to-date antivirus software installed.
• Sign the back of your credit card, and get into the habit of carrying only what you absolutely need when you go out. If you’re robbed, things will be less complicated if you’ve left some documents at home.
• Conceal your PIN whenever you make a transaction, and don’t let your debit card out of your sight. If you make purchases online, be sure to use only secure sites with URLs that begin with https://
• Take a few minutes every month to check your bills and credit card statements. Immediately report any transaction that seems suspicious to you.
• Once a year, ask for a copy of your credit record so that you can fix any irregularities.

What to do if your personal information is stolen

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, don’t panic! Take the time to contact your insurer, who may be able to help. Some home insurance policies, CAA-Quebec’s home No-Stress Policy®, for example, includes a legal assistance phone line: experts are available to answer your questions and walk you through the steps in the process. By acting quickly, you’ll be able to limit the damage.

• First, make a list or table of all the documents that were stolen, along with your card and bank account numbers. Write down every step that you take, as well as the name of every person you consult on the topic.
• Call the police as soon as possible to report the incident; make note of the event number that the officer assigns to your case. Also report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501. This organization collects information on cases of identity theft in Canada.
• Contact your creditors to find out whether any irregular transactions have been made using your bank or credit card accounts. Make sure none of your cheques is missing. Change your online banking passwords. Also periodically change your e-mail and social media account passwords.
• Immediately call the two credit reporting agencies in Canada, Equifax and TransUnion. Notify them of the situation, and ask for a fraud alert to be added to your file. That way, lenders will be required to contact you if someone attempts to use your identity to get a loan.
• Lastly, notify Canada Post, government agencies, and your service providers (Internet, phone, etc.) so that they’ll be alerted in case of suspicious requests. You can also take the opportunity to have any stolen documents replaced.