On the rise, identity theft (or identity theft) consists of
obtaining and using your personal information without your consent and without
your knowledge to commit a crime or fraud.
What Are Identity Thieves Looking For?
Any document and information (used alone or together) that is
used to identify you constitutes personal information, such as:
· Your
first and last name
· Your
address
· Your date
of birth
· Your
numbers
· Driver's
license
· Social
Security number
· Bank
account and personal identification number (PIN)
· Passport
· Your
debit and credit cards
· Your handwritten
or electronic signature, etc.
Fraudsters Who Are Full Of Imagination
To recover your personal data, fraudsters do not hesitate to
deploy the following tactics, among others:
· Sending
spam and fake emails using the identity of a known financial institution or
commercial site (also known as “phishing”) and where you are asked to provide
personal information
· Using an
electronic reader to store bank or credit card data
· Theft of
your wallet or purse
· Hacking
your computer or installing malware
· Search
your trash or recycling bin to retrieve your bills, bank statements and other
documents
· Change of
address without your knowledge to redirect your mail
· Call
pretending to be your bank, employer or landlord
Often, fraudsters will use the bond of trust and create a
sense of urgency to achieve their ends, as in the case of the grandparents
scam.
It can also be just by listening to your private conversations
or looking over your shoulder.
Knowing how crooks go about obtaining your personal
information is a first step towards vigilance.
How to Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft?
No one is safe from identity theft, but be smarter than
scammers and use caution to keep your privacy private.
Silence
is golden when it comes to privacy
Only give out your personal information when required by law
and only if you trust the person asking for it.
For example, don't give out your credit card number or other
personal information over the phone, unless you made the call first.
No matter how credible the organization that asks you for
personal information, never do so by email or on social media.
Keep your
eyes on your cards
When making a purchase, never lose sight of your credit or
debit card.
Ideally, you will be responsible for passing it through the
payment machine.
Opt for
the massive destruction of your documents
Avoid throwing away personal documents, bills, bank
statements, and even marketing offers. Shred them before or burn them.
Your
personal information safe
Keep your personal information safe from prying eyes.
This translates into simple actions like never leaving your
wallet, purse, or documents with personal information unattended in your car, at
the office, or even at home.
Pick up your mail every day and go for a letterbox model with
a key or padlock. When you go on a trip, ask someone you trust to collect your
mail or have Canada Post hold your mail until you return.
A balding
wallet you will have
Bring only essential identity documents.
For other cards, leave them at home in a safe place.
Variety
for your passwords and PINs
Change your passwords often using different types of
characters. Avoid any reference to dates that are important to you, the names
of your children or pets, etc.
Again, be careful not to write these passwords or PINs down on
paper or in a file on your computer.
There are several applications that allow you to securely
manage your many passwords and PINs.
Watch for
irregularities
Every month, check your bank and credit card statements for
any transactions you haven't made.
Once a year, check your credit report to make sure no
irregular or shady transactions are tainting it.
You can also add a fraud alert to your credit report. Thus,
these two organizations will contact you to confirm your identity before
approving any credit application. For around fifteen dollars a month, you will
have peace of mind!
Don't be
too transparent on social media
Be aware that what you post on social media could one day
backfire.
Your
computer and mobile devices are not immune
The latest statistics from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center indicate
that email and the Internet are frequently used solicitation methods. All the
more reason to be extra careful with your computer and mobile devices:
· Install anti-virus and spam
filter, and download recommended updates.
· Do not
transact online unless the site address begins with "https" and is
protected with a padlock.
· Never
leave your devices in the car, as they may well be the delight of a thief in
search of personal data.
· Beware of
scam emails or websites, especially if they ask you to provide them with
personal information or money (tip: they are often riddled with mistakes). Do
not open them or never frequent them, if in doubt.
· Secure
your wireless network (Wi-Fi) with a password.
· Encrypt
your documents which are confidential in nature.
· Before
disposing of a device, use software that permanently destroys the files on it.
· If you
are transacting online, safely exit the site by logging out and clearing your
device's cache.
Your
insurer to the rescue
Check with your insurer. This could assist you in the event of
identity theft.
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