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Difference between revisions of "Identity Theft"
From Clicklaw Wikibooks
→What you can do if your identity is stolen
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# Contact 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. | # Contact 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. | ||
# Contact 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: | # Contact 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] | ##'''Equifax''': Phone toll-free at 1-800-465-7166 or visit their website at [http://www.equifax.com/ www.equifax.com]. | ||
##'''Trans Union Canada''': Phone toll-free at 1-800-663-9980 or visit their website at [http://www.transunion.ca www.transunion.ca] | ##'''Trans Union 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, contact the department or ministry, explain what happened, and request new documents. | # If your government-issued documents were lost or stolen, contact the department or ministry, explain what happened, and request new documents. | ||
# If you think your mail is being stolen or re-directed, contact Canada Post. | # If you think your mail is being stolen or re-directed, contact Canada Post. | ||
