For this issue, the goal is to look at how to protect yourselves from identity theft.
Identity theft in Canada refers collecting and assembling someone else’s personal information for criminal purposes. Essentially, the identity thieves search for information that will allow them to impersonate you. That can then be used for a wide range of activities such as accessing your bank account, applying for loans or credit cards, hiding criminal activities and stealing your government benefits.
Regardless of how it’s used, identity theft usually results in a major loss of money, time and energy for you, especially if the criminals mess with your credit history.
How can you prevent identity theft?
- Don’t give out personal information or respond to requests for personal information unless you have initiated the contact or you know who you’re dealing with. For example, when your bank or your phone provider calls to offer you a deal, ask them if you can call them back instead of just giving them your info.
- Keep documents (such as your Social Insurance Card, health card, birth certificate, etc) somewhere safe. If you’re about to go out drinking and you don’t plan on remembering your night (not that I condone this), don’t bring these with you.
- Check where you’re doing your online shopping and your banking. Is the internet connection you’re using secure? Has the computer you’re using been checked for viruses recently? Please don’t start typing your credit card information into a public computer on campus. Although these computers are regularly maintained, it’s all too easy for someone to install a hardware keylogger on these computers or to simply be spying on you.
- Don’t hand over your SIN number every time you’re asked for it. If your potential landlord, your cell phone carrier or even your utilities provider wants it, make sure that they have a good policy for the use and retention of that information.
- Check where you’re doing your online shopping. If it’s not a well-respected site, try actually buying stuff in-person or check if there’s a PayPal payment option.
Also remember that it isn’t just your credit card number or banking information that these criminals are trying to steal. By getting your email address and password or simply knowing the answer to your security questions, criminals can easily access what they need. If you think that something like your Quest password isn’t a big deal, remember it can be used to access your SIN number on Quest.
So how can you tell or check if your personal information is being misused?
- Check your bills and credit card activity. If stuff starts showing up that you did not buy, then there is a good chance your information could be compromised.
- Keep an eye on your credit report. If new accounts or loans get taken out in your name, it should show up on your report.
If something appears to be wrong, investigate it. And, between now and the next issue, check your habits to make sure you are not at risk for identity theft.
Hasbos
There are so many forms of identity theft. Financial/credit cards are only 25% of the problem. Your medical information can be changed, drivers license. someone can be living under your whole name, New born child are having SIN numbers in their name and they don't know about it until they look for work. How can you fix 16 years of your identity being stolen and maybe bought over and over and over again? It seems the criminals are always one step ahead of us. Everyone should seriously look at getting identity theft protection. Learn how you are protected. Get the best there is.
Kate, thank you for this article. People have to be more aware that their data is out there. Banks, schools, governments have been victimed. They have the best security and the criminals found a way. It is easy for them to get my info and yours. Better to have protection and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Jacqueline