Identity theft
Posted by Malcolm Slater
Wayne Omardeen from the Fraud Squad of the Peel Regional Police spoke on the subject of Identity Theft.
Identity Theft (IT) is described as the unauthorized acquisition of personal information perpetrated to obtain financial gain.
Identity Theft (IT) is described as the unauthorized acquisition of personal information perpetrated to obtain financial gain.
There were 10,822 reported attempts of IT in Canad in 2006 and losses exceeded $23million.
It happens when people lose their wallets, suffer from break ins, have their documents stolen or through database thefts.
The best prevention is to be vigilant and protect yourself by following the following guidelines:
Signs of fraud to look out for are: receiving a 407 bill but you do not have a transponder, discovering that a mortgage has been placed on your home, or finding that you suddenly have a bad credit rating.
If you become a victim, this is what you should do.
It happens when people lose their wallets, suffer from break ins, have their documents stolen or through database thefts.
The best prevention is to be vigilant and protect yourself by following the following guidelines:
- Shred all personal mail
- Be wary of all unsolicited mail or calls
- Only keep required documentation in your wallet or purse
- Don't use your debit card as the risk of losses are much higher than a credit card
- Businesses should keep all personal data secure
- Documents containing personal data should be cross shredded
- Do not provide personal information over the phone, internet or mail unless you can authenticate the caller
Signs of fraud to look out for are: receiving a 407 bill but you do not have a transponder, discovering that a mortgage has been placed on your home, or finding that you suddenly have a bad credit rating.
If you become a victim, this is what you should do.
- Call the police
- Contact the credit bureau
- Ask for a credit report
- Contact your bank and ask for your accounts to be flagged
- Create an identity theft statement and distribute it
- Cancel credit cards, bank accounts etc and get new ones.