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WATCH your IDENTITY!

Identity (ID) theft is serious. It occurs when someone steals your personal information to commit a crime. While you can't entirely control whether you will become a victim there are ways to minimize the risk.

Guard Your Personal Information

• Never give personal information by phone, Internet or mail unless you initiate the contact.
• Be careful about sharing personal information and don't give out more than you need to.
• Shield your PIN, and never lend cards.
• Immediately report missing credit or debit cards.
• Carry only the ID you need.
• Put other ID documents (SIN, birth certificate, passport) in a safe place.
• Shred documents with personal information.
• SIN is only for employment and tax reporting.
• Ask about the security of your information at work, with businesses and charities.

Guard your Computer and its Information

• Select a complex password of letters, numbers and symbols.
• Install firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware and security software-update often.
• Don't try, don't buy and don't reply to spam or emails that ask for banking information.
• For online transactions, look for https://, a closed lock or an unbroken key icon.
• When disposing of hard drives, use overwrite software or destroy the drive.

ARE YOU a VICTIM?

With your identity, thieves can open new bank accounts, order cell phones, take out a mortgage on your property and buy cars or furniture.

Signs of ID Theft

• Purchases not made by you appear on your monthly bills.
• Bills arrive on accounts you don't own.
• Collection agency calls about unknown debt.
• Credit card/bank statements don't arrive.
• Your credit report shows mystery debts.

What to Do

• Call financial institutions and local police.
• Put a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting
  
  Equifax: 1-866-779-6440 and
  Trans Union: 1-877-525-3823
  (Quebec residents: 1-877-713-3393).
• To replace ID cards like health, driver's licence, SIN
  call 1-800 O Canada
• Contact Canada Post if your mail is missing.
• Keep records of steps taken to clear your name and re-establish your credit.
• Help stop fraud. Contact PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501 or phonebusters.com

For more information on Identity Theft visit
www.ConsumerInformation.ca