Identity Theft: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:18, 25 April 2017

This page is used in the Scams to Avoid Lesson Module, a law-related ESL lesson for newcomers to Canada.

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by People's Law School in March 2017.

Someone has taken your name, your credit card information, and your Social Insurance Number (SIN), and they are pretending to be you. They’re running up steep bills, even committing crimes - and as far as your bank and the authorities are concerned, they are you. This is identity theft, and it is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada.

What is identity theft?

Identity theft happens when someone takes your personal information - such as your name, address, date of birth, SIN, your bank account numbers, credit card information, or online passwords - and uses it to access your finances, make purchases in your name, or commit other crimes. For example, they might:

take money out of your bank account
make purchases using your credit card information
apply for a credit card or a loan in your name
sign up for a cellphone service in your name

It is a criminal offence to possess someone else’s identification for criminal purposes, or to use it to commit a crime (such as impersonating someone or misusing a credit card).

How do they get the information?

"I got a call from my credit card company asking if I had just bought something in New York. I’ve never been to New York. It turns out someone had been using my credit card for weeks, and run up $10,000 in charges. The police think she got my credit card information by pulling an old bill out of my garbage, and then she contacted the credit card company to change my address. I had wondered why I hadn’t received a bill for almost two months."
- Hazel, Williams Lake

Identity thieves can obtain your personal information in many ways. Some might find a wallet or phone you lost, and take information from it.

Some go through garbage or recycling bins for discarded bills or other mail with personal information on it.

Some use technology to steal your information. For example, they pretend to be a reputable company and send fake emails or texts to trick you into providing personal and financial information.

Warning signs

There are many signs that could indicate your personal information is being used by someone else.

On your bills or bank statements, you don’t recognize some purchases or withdrawals.
Bills or bank statements arrive late or not at all (they may have been redirected).
You're alerted by your bank or credit card company about suspicious transactions.
You start getting bills from companies you know nothing about.
A company or collection agency contacts you about a debt that isn’t yours.

Consequences of identity theft

Being the victim of identity theft can be a complicated and frustrating experience.

There is the immediate inconvenience of having to cancel cards and accounts and get replacements.

There can be charges for purchases you didn’t make and services you didn’t order. If these purchases were made with a lost or stolen credit card, you shouldn’t be liable for any losses as long as you report the lost or stolen card immediately.

As well, identity theft can result in a bad credit report, which could make it difficult for you to find employment, rent a place to live, or borrow money. See the section "If You've Been Scammed" for steps you can take to protect or repair your credit report.

Preventing problems

Here are ways to minimize the risk of someone stealing your identity.

Protect your personal information

Never give personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you by phone or online unless you know who they are or can confirm they are legitimate. Be extra careful about giving out your Social Insurance Number (SIN). It's virtually a key to your identity.

Handle your documents carefully

Carry only the identification you need. Don’t carry your SIN card, birth certificate, or passport on a regular basis. Store them in a safe place and only carry them when you know you need them. Tear or shred receipts and copies of papers you no longer need, such as old tax returns, insurance forms, and credit offers you get in the mail.

Be cautious using email

Be extremely wary of emails that seem to come from financial institutions or authorities asking you to provide personal information. If in doubt, look up their contact information, call them, and ask them to verify the request before providing any information.

Be cautious online

On social networking sites, don't post more personal information than necessary. Set your privacy settings as high as possible. Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know.

Read your statements

Read your bank and credit card statements. That way you'll know right away if you're being charged for something you didn't authorize. Report any missing mail or statements right away.

Scams to Avoid © People's Law School is, except for the images, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.

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+Someone has taken your name, your credit card information, and your Social Insurance Number (SIN), and they are pretending to be you. They’re running up steep bills, even committing crimes - and as far as your bank and the authorities are concerned, they '''are''' you. This is '''identity theft''', and it is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada.
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+==What is identity theft?==
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-| text       = This page is in the process of being updated. Please check back shortly.<br>
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-'''Identity theft''' happens when someone takes the personal information of another person and uses it without their knowledge or consent. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and can happen to anyone. By being aware of the issue and by managing your personal information wisely, you can help guard against identity theft.
-==What does identity theft mean?==
+Identity theft happens when someone takes your personal information - such as your name, address, date of birth, SIN, your bank account numbers, credit card information, or online passwords - and uses it to access your finances, make purchases in your name, or commit other crimes. For example, they might:
+* take money out of your bank account
+* make purchases using your credit card information
+* apply for a credit card or a loan in your name
+* sign up for a cellphone service in your name
-Identity thieves steal your name and other pieces of personal information such as address, date of birth, Social Insurance Number (SIN), credit card numbers, bank numbers, online passwords, calling cards, birth certificates, passports, and your mother’s maiden name.
+It is a criminal offence to possess someone else’s identification for criminal purposes, or to use it to commit a crime (such as impersonating someone or misusing a credit card).
-Once they steal information, identity thieves invade your personal and financial life. Using this information, they may:
+==How do they get the information?==
-* drain your bank accounts, <span class="noglossary">transfer</span> bank balances or open new accounts,
-* run up credit card debts or apply for new credit cards,
-* apply for loans and other services or benefits,
-* go on spending sprees involving the purchase of vehicles, apartments, luxury items and vacations, or
-* commit more crimes and, if arrested, use your identity.
-==How do they get the information?==
+{{PLSStorybox
-{{Videoright
+| image = [[File:Headshot_-_Scams_to_Avoid_-_Hazel_-_2017.jpg|link=]]
-|video = {{#ev:youtube|mvbxcgKRL5Q|350|right|What Is Identity Theft?}}
+| text      = "I got a call from my credit card company asking if I had just bought something in New York. I’ve never been to New York. It turns out someone had been using my credit card for weeks, and run up $10,000 in charges. The police think she got my credit card information by pulling an old bill out of my garbage, and then she contacted the credit card company to change my address. I had wondered why I hadn’t received a bill for almost two months."<br>- Hazel, Williams Lake
 }}
-Identity thieves can obtain your personal and financial information in a range of ways. For example, they may:
+Identity thieves can obtain your personal information in many ways. Some might find a wallet or phone you lost, and take information from it.
-* Steal the information from your computer, smartphone, wallet or purse, home, or vehicle.
-* Pose as a credible person (e.g., government official, bank employee, landlord, employer, creditor, service provider) to obtain your personal or financial information from you or from confidential sources.
+Some go through garbage or recycling bins for discarded bills or other mail with personal information on it.
-* Remove mail from your mailbox or redirect your mail.
-* Tamper with automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-<span class="noglossary">sale</span> debit machines so they can read your debit or credit card number and personal identification number (PIN).
-* Retrieve personal information from garbage or recycling.
-* Buy the information from someone who works where personal and/or financial information is stored.
-* Use online search engines, social media networks, newspapers, phone books, and public records to obtain your information.
-* Place bogus advertisements for employment in <span class="noglossary">order</span> to obtain your information.
-* Pretend they need your personal details to send you "winnings."
-==Warning signs==
+Some use technology to steal your information. For example, they pretend to be a reputable company and send fake emails or texts to trick you into providing personal and financial information.
-* You find withdrawals or transfers you didn’t make in your bank accounts.
+==Warning signs==
-* Your credit card statements show items you didn’t purchase.
-* You notice that not all of your mail is arriving on time.
-* You get credit card statements for accounts you don’t have.
-* You start getting bills from companies you know nothing about.
-* A creditor calls to say you’ve been approved or denied credit you haven’t applied for.
-* You apply for credit and are turned down for no apparent reason.
-* A collection agency tries to collect on a debt that isn’t yours.
-== What you can do to minimize the risk==
+There are many signs that could indicate your personal information is being used by someone else.
-{{Videoright
+* On your bills or bank statements, you don’t recognize some purchases or withdrawals.
-|video =
+* Bills or bank statements arrive late or not at all (they may have been redirected).
-{{#ev:youtube|K9hvYMQA_HM|350|right|Identity Theft: Scams to Avoid}}
+* You're alerted by your bank or credit card company about suspicious transactions.
-}}
+* You start getting bills from companies you know nothing about.
+* A company or collection agency contacts you about a '''debt''' that isn’t yours.
+==Consequences of identity theft==
+Being the victim of identity theft can be a complicated and frustrating experience.
-Immediately notify the issuer if you think any of your identity documents may be lost or stolen. Here are some strategies you can use to minimize the risk of someone stealing your identity.
+There is the immediate inconvenience of having to cancel cards and accounts and get replacements.
-===Online===
+There can be charges for purchases you didn’t make and services you didn’t order. If these purchases were made with a lost or stolen credit card, you shouldn’t be liable for any losses as long as you report the lost or stolen card immediately.
-* Use passwords that do not contain easily available information.
-* Don’t download applications unless you can verify the source. Never give personal information to “unlock” a feature or <span class="noglossary">application</span>.
-* Have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall. Use the most up-to-date versions of your web browser to offer further protection.
-* On a social networking site, don’t post more personal information than necessary. Set your privacy settings as high as possible. Do not accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
-* Never follow links in emails, even to log in to Facebook or Twitter. Go to the site directly and log in there.
-* If you use secure sites for financial transactions, follow all of the <span class="noglossary">instructions</span> for security when you enter and exit the site.
-* Don't send personal and financial information by email unless you know the service is secure.
-* Make sure personal information is deleted before you sell, recycle or discard your computer. You may have deleted files from folders but the information may still be on the computer’s hard drive.
-===On your mobile devices===
+As well, identity theft can result in a bad '''credit report,''' which could make it difficult for you to find employment, rent a place to live, or borrow money. See the section "[[If You've Been Scammed]]" for steps you can take to protect or repair your credit report.
-* Password protect your smartphone and lock the keypad when you're not using it. Ensure you enable the password or PIN to all your voice mail accounts.
-* Don't share any important information, <span class="noglossary">account</span> numbers or passwords via text message. Text messages are relatively easy to intercept.
-* Carry only the information you need on your phone. Just because you can list contacts in a smartphone <span class="noglossary">application</span> doesn't mean you should do it.
-* If you carry important information on your smartphone, consider using software that can remotely lock your phone or remove your information.
-===In everyday transactions===
+==Preventing problems==
-[[File:Identitytheft.jpg| right | frame | link=| <span style="font-size:60%;">Copyright www.shutterstock.com</span>]]
+[[File:Scams_to_Avoid_-_Contents4.png|thumb|275px|right| link=| <span style="font-size:50%;">Image via www.istockphoto.com</span>]]
+Here are ways to minimize the risk of someone stealing your identity.
-* Give your SIN only when absolutely necessary, and do not carry your SIN with you.
+===Protect your personal information===
-* Never give personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you by phone or online unless you know who they are or can confirm they are legitimate.
+Never give personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you by phone or online unless you know who they are or can confirm they are legitimate. Be extra careful about giving out your Social Insurance Number (SIN). It's virtually a key to your identity.
-* Be aware that police and financial institutions never call or email to ask for your bank or credit card details or PIN.
-* Tear or shred receipts and copies of papers you no longer need, such as old tax returns, insurance forms, and credit offers you get in the mail.
-* Don't leave personal information lying around at home, in your vehicle, at the office or on your computer. Don’t leave receipts at an ATM, a gas station, or anywhere else where you are purchasing goods or services.
-* When you receive a renewal or replacement for a document that contains identity information (e.g., your driver’s licence), return or destroy the old one.
-* Sign your credit and debit cards as soon as you get them. Cut up expired and unused cards.
-* Keep key documents such as your birth certificate, passport and social insurance card in a safe place when you’re not using them. Also keep other important documents such as tax returns, will, marriage certificate, diplomas and degrees in a safe place.
-* Make a list of the names, <span class="noglossary">account</span> numbers and expiration dates of your cards in a secure place. Store this list somewhere secure. This <span class="noglossary">will</span> help you if you need to alert your credit grantors about a lost or stolen card.
-* Know when your credit card and financial statements and utility bills are due. Pay attention to credit card expiry dates. Match credit cards and debit cards to your statements.
-* Do not put more than your name and address on your personal cheques.
-* Lock your household mailbox if possible. Pick up your mail promptly. When you are away, have a trusted person pick up your mail.
-==What you can do if your identity is stolen==
+===Handle your documents carefully===
-{{Videoright
+Carry only the identification you need. Don’t carry your SIN card, birth certificate, or passport on a regular basis. Store them in a safe place and only carry them when you know you need them.
-|video =
+Tear or shred receipts and copies of papers you no longer need, such as old tax returns, insurance forms, and credit offers you get in the mail.
-{{#ev:youtube|UJXG5fc8WWU|350|right|Help! Someone Stole My Identity}}
-}}
-Dealing with identity theft is time-consuming. You need support and information. This section suggests actions you can take to stop the thief and regain control of your identity documents.
+===Be cautious using email===
+Be extremely wary of emails that seem to come from financial institutions or authorities asking you to provide personal information. If in doubt, look up their contact information, call them, and ask them to verify the request before providing any information.
-If you suspect you have become a victim, you need to <span class="noglossary">contact</span> financial institutions, credit issuers, other companies and credit reporting agencies. Keep a log of dates, person(s) that you speak with or write to, what they say, and how to <span class="noglossary">contact</span> them again if you have more questions.
+===Be cautious online===
+On social networking sites, don't post more personal information than necessary. Set your privacy settings as high as possible. Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know.
-# Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or [http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca]. The CAFC has an Identity Theft Statement you can use to send to financial institutions, credit issuers, other companies and credit reporting agencies. You can download it from the website and make copies.
+===Read your statements===
-# <span class="noglossary">Contact</span> your financial institutions, credit issuers, and other companies. Tell them what has happened and ask them to investigate. Cancel any cards that were affected and close any affected accounts. Find out if the company requires written documentation to begin investigating your claim of identity theft. Send the company the documentation they require as soon as possible.
+Read your bank and credit card statements.  That way you'll know right away if you're being charged for something you didn't authorize. Report any missing mail or statements right away.
-# <span class="noglossary">Contact</span> Canada’s two major credit reporting agencies. Ask each agency to send you a copy of your credit report. The credit report may show if there are other companies where the identity thief has opened accounts or incurred debt in your name. Discuss with the credit reporting agency whether to have a “fraud alert” placed on your file. A fraud alert means that creditors call you before opening any new accounts or changing your existing accounts. The two major credit reporting agencies are:
-#*Equifax: Phone toll-free at 1-800-465-7166 or visit their website at [http://www.equifax.com/ www.equifax.com].
-#*TransUnion Canada: Phone toll-free at 1-800-663-9980 or visit their website at [http://www.transunion.ca www.transunion.ca].
-# If your government-issued documents were lost or stolen, <span class="noglossary">contact</span> the department or ministry, explain what happened, and request new documents.
-# If you think your mail is being stolen or re-directed, <span class="noglossary">contact</span> Canada Post.
-# Report the incident to your local police department. Ask the police to take a report, if possible. If a police report is available, include it in all your correspondence about the identity theft with financial institutions, credit issuers, other companies and credit reporting agencies.
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