Economic Integrity - Identity TheftProtect your personal information – don’t become a victim 

What is identity theft? 

Identity theft is someone wrongfully obtaining and using your personal identifying information to commit fraud or theft or for other purposes.

Video Description: This video is a reenactment of various people wrongfully obtaining information for the purposes of identity theft and the typical results from this.

Identity Theft
  • Transcription[A woman is sitting at a table talking on the phone with an open phone book and documents on the table]

    Narrator: Crooks can create an illusion that they really are you.

    Once in that position they can transfer money from your accounts, apply for loans and credit cards, redirect mail, buy merchandise, vacations and even homes.

    Basically it ruins your life for years to come.

    [A narrator speaks about Identity theft.]

    So how does our private information get into the wrong hands?

    Well, one of the more obvious ways is theft, plain and simple.

    [A male opens a passenger side door, there is a black laptop bag on the passenger seat. The male looks into the bag and sees a laptop. He takes the bag with the laptop in it and closes the passenger side door.]

    Narrator: Stolen items like a laptop, wallet, purse or passport provide plenty of information for identity theft.

    [A male approaches a mail box, opens it and sifts through the mail. He takes out several envelopes and a box that resembles a cheque book. ]

    Keep an eye out for mail theft too.

    Your mailbox can contain wealth of private information.

    [A woman opens her front door and takes out her mail then re-enters her home]

    For example, bank and credit card statements, new cheques, credit card offer and tax information.

    Narrator: Remove your mail promptly and if you go away have someone pick it up for you.

    [A male approaches a dumpster, and rummages through the contents including what looks like mail. Another male approaches a curb side garbage can and recycling box and dumps the content into his vehicle]

    [A male is sitting at a table and typing at his laptop computer]

    Have you ever heard of dumpster diving?

    Narrator: It’s a sport of thieves involving digging through our recycling bins, trash cans and garbage dumps in search of personal documents they can use.

    But this is not all thieves can use, with new technologies come new forms of scams.

    The internet has provided more opportunities for criminals.

    To reduce the threat, install a firewall, an anti virus, anti spyware software on your computer.

    These are readily available and easy to install.

    [Screen shots on the computer of social network site Facebook]

    Narrator: Know who you are communicating with online.

    Limit personal information on social networking sites.

    And make purchases from reputable websites.

    [The male who was typing on his laptop computer speaks]

    Male: I can’t believe it.

    Someone just withdrew 1,800 bucks from my bank account.

    Now I have to prove this was a fraud.

    [A shot of the male’s hands that are typing on the laptop]

    What a mess! Narrator: Ben is also a victim of identity fraud.

    The scammers went phishing.

    A ploy that uses e-mail lures to phish for passwords and private information.

    [The male who was typing on his laptop computer speaks]

    Male: My bank asked me if I’d ever responded to e-mails about my online bills.

    I didn’t think so, but then I remembered receiving this e-mail from what I thought was my cell phone company.

    They were saying they had trouble with their server and they needed me to update my account information.

    Otherwise they couldn’t keep me on as a customer.

    I was so worried that they would cut me off I gave them all the information they wanted including my bank account number and password.

    What a mistake! No one should ask you for your PIN or password.

    Never give out any personal information unless you know who you’re dealing with.

    [A series of ATM machines appear on the screen behind the narrator.]

    [A woman speaks inside of a home]

    Woman: Eventually I learned how all my information was stolen.

    It started with mail theft.

    They just found my bank statements in my recycling bin and with that, well they could apply for credit in my name.

    I thought I was protected if I just tore my statements in half.

    Narrator: While we can’t prevent identity theft entirely we can minimize the risk.

    Here are just a few more steps to avoid it: Always check your credit card and bank statements carefully for anything unusual.

    Change your passwords regularly Check your credit report now and again to see if it has anything suspicious When using debit cards, shield others from seeing your PIN.

    Don’t carry the numbers with and change them periodically.

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    Identity Theft

Did You Know?

  • In Canada, in 2010, $9.4 million was reported lost by 18,146 identity fraud victims. - Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
  • It takes 12 months, on average, for a victim of identity theft to notice the crime. - U.S. Federal Trade Commission
  • In the USA, in 2005, the leading target age groups were 18-29 and 30-39. Identity thieves may need a stolen identity that approximates their own age. - U.S. Federal Trade Commission, January 2006

There are many ways someone can access your personal information:

1.  Mail Theft

Superboxes and apartment boxes are more of a target than individual mailboxes for mail theft. This may include redirection of mail as well as theft of mail.

Prevention:

  • Be vigilant and report suspicious activities around mailboxes.
  • Pay attention if you do not receive mail that you had expected.
  • Don’t let mail build up in your mailbox.

2.  Intercepting Garbage

Prevention:

  • Shred all documents containing personal information before discarding.
  • Businesses should be especially careful to guard their client’s information.
PHISHING refers to directing people to web sites which look official but are in fact bogus sites designed to access personal information. For example, if your bank’s web site is www.mybank.ca, beware of www.mybank.com, www.my_bank.ca, or similar variations - they may be fake!

Phishing

Back doors or Trojans are programs that may be loaded onto your computer, usually by e-mail, that enable other computers to remotely access your data. The threat can be eliminated through proper use of Internet security programs or firewalls, used in conjunction with anti-virus software.

3.  Theft of Wallets and Purses

Your identification is often more valuable than the cash.

Prevention:

  • Do not carry unnecessary identification (passports, birth certificate, Social Insurance card).
  • Report stolen credit and bank cards.

4.  Computers

11.6% of identity theft was through computers
- 2005 Identity Fraud Survey Report

Prevention:

  • Share personal information on trusted and secure web sites only (secure sites begin https:).
  • Practice safe computing - Do not open suspicious e-mail.  Use anti-virus software to filter e-mail.
  • Wipe your computer hard drives if you sell ordispose of an old computer.
  • Use a firewall or Internet Security Software to prevent hackers from accessing your data.

5.  ATM Fraud

Tampering with automated teller machines (ATMs) and point of sale terminals enables thieves to read your debit or credit card number and personal identification number (PIN).

Prevention:

  • Use familiar ATMs.
  • ATMs with security cameras (including machines located inside businesses and in business-hours branches) are less likely to attract criminals; seek out these machines when possible.
  • Be suspicious if your card is "eaten" by the machine and someone approaches you to say the same thing happened to them, then advises you to enter your PIN again.
  • Limit your after-hours ATM use.
  • Watch for "shoulder surfers" who watch you enter your PIN
  • Keep a watchful eye on your monthly statement, as well as your balance, and report any problems to your bank. - Tom Harper, publisher of ATMmarketplace.com

What is done with your personal information?

  • Charge purchases or withdrawing funds from your accounts.
  • Establish new accounts in your name (and not paying the bills).
  • Change mailing addresses so you will not notice their activity.
  • Rent a premises for a marihuana grow op.
  • Apply for a mortgage for a marihuana grow op.
  • Access government social programs (EI, pension, social assistance).
  • Use false identification to avoid prosecution, access government services in your name or allow unwanted visitors to enter the country.

How will you know if your identity has been stolen?

  • You learn of a credit application that you did not make.
  • Regular statements do not appear in the mail.
  • A payment is charged to you that you did not authorize.
  • A collection agency informs you that you have defaulted on a payment you did not make.

What can you do if you think you are a victim?

  • Notify your bank or credit card company IMMEDIATELY.
  • Contact Equifax 1-800-465-7166 and Trans Union (877) 525-3823 and request a fraud alert be placed on your credit record.
  • Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre - formerly Phonebusters at 1-888-495-8501.
  • Record the dates and times of what you do and whom you speak with. 

Identity Theft PreventionQuick Tips to prevent identity theft:

Never throw away bank records or other documents in a readable form.

Never give your credit card number over the telephone unless you make the call.

Never give your PIN number to anyone.

Reconcile your bank account often and notify your bank of discrepancies immediately.  Watch your account activity online.

Be cautious about sharing your personal information.

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