This article is intended for information purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice.
How to protect yourself from identity theft
Imagine… you wake up one morning to find your personal information (e.g. social insurance number, debit or credit card number, username and password) was stolen, and some scammer is pretending to be you and spending your hard-earned money.
The sad truth is that the number of Canadians falling victim to identity theft is on the rise. Having your identity stolen can happen anywhere, anytime. So, what can you do to avoid falling into the trap? Keep reading for more about this problem and some tips to prevent it from happening to you.
What makes your identity attractive to scammers
So, you think scammers aren't interested in you? Think again! Scammers are definitely interested in your personal information!
They're looking for:
- full names
- dates of birth
- Social Insurance Numbers
- addresses
- personal identification numbers (PIN)
- passwords
- driver's licence numbers
- passports
- debit and credit card numbers
- handwritten or electronic signatures
Their goal is either to commit fraud or sell your information to third parties.
Beware pickpockets
Even though when we think about identity theft, we usually think it happens only online. The technological and virtual age we live in makes it easy for us to forget that pickpockets have plenty of opportunities to simply walk off with personal information. Some things just never go out of style:
- lifting an unattended wallet or handbag
- stealing an unattended suitcase at a hotel
- entering through an unlocked door or open window
- rooting through the garbage or recycling bin to find bills, bank statements and other confidential documents
Professional fraudsters will even resort to more sophisticated methods, including:
- RFID skimmers to steal your bank or credit card information.
- Cameras to record your finger movements when keying in your personal identification number (PIN).
- Mail redirection to intercept sensitive document without your knowledge.
Finally, some scammers may even be so bold as to contact you directly. They are skilled at building trust. They will find plenty of excuses to get you to disclose personal information. The elderly are prime targets. So, beware of charismatic newcomers who suddenly hang around your parents.
A few ways to protect yourself
Travel light and keep an eye on your belongings
Carry only must-have ID on your daily outings. Keep all your IDs with you when traveling, especially your passport.
Leave other cards and identification, such as your Social Insurance Number and birth certificate, safely stored away.
Use a shredder
Never throw personal documents, bills, bank statements and even personalized marketing offers in the garbage. Shred them.
Handle your debit and credit cards with care
Most financial institutions now offer contactless credit cards. If you have one, use that payment method. When the reader fails or if you don't have this kind of card, make sure to discretely key in your PIN number.
Keep an eye on your mailbox
Pick up your mail regularly. When you're travelling, get a relative or trusted neighbour to do it or ask Canada Post to hold it until you return.
Never leave valuables in your car
Your glove compartment is not a safe place to keep personal identification. Also avoid leaving electronic devices, like your phone or laptop, in plain view.
Don’t take the bait
Online or phone phishing is a real goldmine for fraudsters. It offers a fast and easy way to pull off huge scams, while remaining completely anonymous.
It's not always easy for inexperienced users to navigate the web in total security. Some of the main strategies that scammers use include:
- Phishing, which is sending fake emails that appear legitimate and that ask the victim to provide personal information.
- Technical deception, which is tricking victims into installing malware or downloading infected files.
- Message-based deception, which is posing as employees of your bank, credit card company or the government, often using recorded messages.
- Fake opportunities, which is offering deals that are too good to be true (have you ever won a cruise?).
Outsmarting scammers and hackers
When in doubt, just say no
Make sure you know who you’re dealing with before giving out any personal information. Only disclose it when required by law. For example, don’t share your credit card number or any other personal information over the phone, unless you trust the person asking for it.
Never send your personal information by email, no matter how credible the organization may be that is requesting it, and never post a pic of your personal documents (mortgage loan, lease, diploma, passport, etc.) on social media.
Be careful on social media
Trips, birthday parties, weddings, graduations, promotions, new homes: everyone likes to post highlights of their life on social media. Keep in mind that you may be giving away your personal information for free to would-be scammers.
To minimize the risk, avoid mentioning dates, addresses or any other detailed information in your posts.
Share vacation photos only after you've returned home.
Change your password
Change your passwords often, and consider using different character types each time. Choose passwords, or even passphrases, with care and never use things like birthdays or children's names.
More tech tips
- Install anti-virus and anti-spam filters and regularly update them.
- Only make online transactions on sites whose URL starts with ‘https’ and a padlock icon is displayed.
- Never send personal information or money simply because an email or website asks you to (helpful hint: be suspicious of messages with mistakes).
- Use a password to secure your wireless network (Wi-Fi).
- Encrypt confidential documents.
- Before getting rid of a device, do a factory reset or use software to permanently wipe all files.
- Always log out of a site after completing an online transaction and clear your browser cache.
Sniff out the bandits
Flag suspicious transactions. Review your bank and credit card statements, as well as your phone bill history, every month.
Track your credit score.
Request a complete credit report from Equifax or TransUnion to make sure there are no irregular or unusual transactions. You can also add a fraud alert to your credit report.
Get support from your insurer
Re-establishing an identity is a complex, weeks-long process involving phone calls, sworn statements and many administrative steps. Take action as soon as you realize your identity has been stolen.
Contact your insurance company because they may be able to help you.