Protect yourself
Protect yourself
As with most crimes, there is no absolutely foolproof defence, but you can certainly minimize the odds of having your ID stolen by taking a few simple steps. The obvious: Guard your personal information; never divulge personal data on the phone, online or by mail. Clever identity thieves will routinely pose as bank agents, utility employees and even government agents. Also…
- Consider a lockable mailbox or even an old-fashioned mail slot that drops the mail straight into your home.
- Carry the bare minimum of credit cards and personal identification.
- Leave your SIN card in a secure place at home and carry your passport only when travelling.
- Shred everything, including mailing labels and pre-approved credit card applications (meaning, don’t just drop these into your recycling).
- Monitor your credit at least once a year. Credit rating reporting bureaus, such as Equifax and TransUnion [Instructions are available from the homepage of both of the Canadian websites, click links above], can provide free credit reports.
- Be diligent when reviewing your accounts and credit card statements, matching every single transaction, no matter how small, with receipts.
- Take advantage of relatively affordable title insurance with identity theft coverage.
- When using a credit or debit card, never let the card out of your sight, and don’t be bashful. Get up close and personal to the keypad; it’s better than exposing yourself to keypad peepers.
Who can help?
Most Canadian banks post identity theft protection/anti-phishing tips on their websites, including:
For more information about protecting yourself against identity theft, read our features: Canada's identity theft problem and Guard your identity online
This article originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of More
