Preventing Canadian Identity Theft

What is identity theft in Canada? When anyone steals your name, your SIN (Social Insurance Number), Canadian credit card number(s), or other personal information for use without your knowledge, to gain access to your financial accounts; open new bank accounts; transfer bank balances; apply for loans, credit cards, and other services in Canada or abroad.

How Can Canadians Protect Themselves from ID Theft in Canada

Do NOT EVER give out personal information on the phone/mail or over Internet unless you know exactly whom you're dealing with on the other end of the conversation.

Before providing any personal information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared. Canadians enjoy strong federal protection from abuse and misuse of their privacy.

Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.

Utilize passwords on your credit card and bank accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your birth date, or a portion of your SIN or phone number.

Give your SIN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identification when possible.

Carry only the essential identification information you need and keep things like your SIN and passport secured at home - away from the prying eyes of identity thieves

Pay close attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.

Be sure to shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements and credit offers you get in the mail.

What to Do If You Become a ID Theft Victim

Contact your branch and other creditors for any accounts that have been opened or tampered with fraudulently. This may include credit card companies, phone companies, banks and other lenders.

File a report with your local Police or the Police in the community where the ID theft took place.

Contact the fraud departments of each of the two major credit bureaus:

Equifax Canada: 1-800-465-7166

Trans Union Canada: 1-877-525-3823 except Quebec residents 1-877-713-3393

Request that a "Fraud Alert" be placed in your files. At the same time order online copies of your credit reports at both Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.

A final step would be to contact the PhoneBusters national call centre 1-888-495-8501. PhoneBusters is central sourcing point for all pertinent information on identity theft. To help identity trends and patterns, information is also used to assist law enforcement agencies in possible investigations.

Keep a log of people you speak with, what day, and exactly what they said.