Identity theft

Every year, many Canadians find themselves faced with the awful reality that someone has stolen their personal information. The consequences can include big credit card bills, loan or mortgage fraud, and the duplication of a passport or other valuable identification documents. Cleaning up after identity theft can be a long, expensive and stressful process. 

What can you do to protect yourself from identity theft?

There are many ways you can protect yourself from identity theft, whether it is protecting your personal and banking information or protecting yourself online: 

• Always store personal information like bank account numbers and credit card details in a safe place
• Never carry your birth certificate or SIN card in your wallet
• Only give your SIN out for employment or tax purposes
• Shred all financial or other confidential documents
• Never tell anyone your bank PIN or password
• Choose passwords that are complex and difficult to guess
• Keep your computer safe by using anti-spyware and anti-virus software
• When shopping online make sure the site you are using is secure (begins with https://) and that you know the vendor is reputable.
• Do not reply to spam emails that ask for banking information, credit card details or other personal information 

You should also carefully review your bank and credit card statements regularly and if you notice anything unusual, report it immediately. If your credit card company calls to verify a purchase that you did not make, make sure you cancel that card immediately as your card number has been stolen. Be aware that your bank or credit card company will never call you and ask you for your banking or credit information. This information should always be in their records. 

What do I do if I have been a victim of identity theft?

If you think you have been a victim of identity theft, you need to report it immediately. PhoneBusters, a Canadian anti-fraud call centre, can help you to report the crime to financial institutions, credit card and other companies. You should also call the police to report the crime and ask their advice on what to do next. 

For more information about identity theft, how to protect yourself and what to do if you become the victim of this crime, contact: 

PhoneBusters

www.phonebusters.com or 1-888-495-8501 

Ottawa Police Service: http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/ServingOttawa/SectionsAndUnits/Fraud/TypesofFraud/identity.aspx 

Seniors and Fraud

Seniors are often targets of different types of fraud, especially schemes to obtain personal or banking information and to take their money for made-up causes or programs. 

The OPS has resources for seniors about the different types of fraud they should be aware of, and how to protect themselves. Visit the Fraud Against Seniors section of the OPS website at: 

http://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/ServingOttawa/SectionsAndUnits/Fraud/TypesofFraud/seniors.aspx

The ABC’s of Fraud Program of Ottawa was developed specifically for seniors and also has many resources about the most common types of fraud against seniors, including:

• Door to door sales
• Illegal Telemarketing
• Identity Theft
• Internet Fraud
• Investment Scams
• Bogus Charities  

You can visit the website at: http://abcsfraudottawa.tripod.com/. You can also reach them by phone at 613-564-5555 or by email at yeskino@rogers.com.