Identity fraud

Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft

Identity theft is becoming more common.

As a warning to others on this board, here are some things you CAN do to prevent:

  • Do not carry extraneous identification in your wallet (SIN or Birth Certificate)
  • NEVER give personal information over the phone to someone who called you
  • inform your bank and/credit card company of any lost or stolen information immediately upon discovering it missing
  • check your credit report regularly (minimum every 6-12 months). Do not just look for any new credit facilities opened, also check to see what companies have made inquiries on your credit history. Did you apply to those companie for any sort of credit?
  • be aware if you stop receiving monthly statements on any of your credit cards, unless you have requested it. If you did not request it, and you do not receive a monthly statement, contact your credit card company immediately!

If you discover you have been the victim of identify theft:

  • contact all of your credit card companies immediately and advise them
  • contact your bank immediately and advise them
  • contact BOTH Credit Reporting Agencies in Canada (links below) and ask them to put an alert on your credit report, stating any future requests for credit must be verified by a telephone call to the phone number provided on the alert. (Note: by LAW, they must do this for Ontario Residents)
  • IMMEDIATELY contact your local police and file a report. Be sure to obtain an Incident Report Number and keep this in your files.

Links to Canada's Credit Bureaus

Equifax

https://www.econsumer.equifax.ca/ca/main?forward=/view/common/template.jsp&body=/view/home/home.jsp

TransUnion

https://www.creditprofile.transunion.ca/entry/gold.jsp?bn=24&kw=2013

P.S. I think this is a great way to recognize my 500th post...hopefully by giving something back to TERB Community!:D
 
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I had my chequing account hacked. Fucker made a fake card, transfered money from my LOC to my CA, then proceeded to buy a money order for $5.00 under my Debit limit, then take out money from the ATM, till RBC cut him off.

Here's the scary part......

The amount he transfered from my LOC to my chequing account was EXACTLY what my mortgage payment was. The amount he took out via the ATM - same as my mortgage.

SOOO, that means he hacked right into my account and christ only knows what information he was able to access.

Knock on wood, I haven't had any grief since that happened about 2 oro 3 years ago, but who knows.

As to my own security, I never ever give anyone any information on line, or over the phone. I'm very cautious now.

Also, anything that comes to my house with my name on it gets cross shredded. Any statement, once it's paid - meet Mr. Shredder. Any junk mail with my name and address on it - rip off said label, shred label, blue box the rest. It's a pain the ass, but what are you going to do.