Identity fraud
Fraudsters increasingly use stolen personal information to apply for government benefits, open credit cards and bank accounts, take over social medial and email accounts and even create unauthorized cell phone accounts. It's critical that Canadians take proactive steps to protect their personal and financial information and understand how to respond if identity fraud occurs.
How to Recognize Identity Fraud
- Missing bills or receiving bills from services providers you do not use
- Unfamiliar transactions in your bank account or credit card statements
- Letters regarding credit applications you did not submit, including approval or denial notices
- Unauthorized applications or accounts showing up on your credit report
- Calls from creditors or collection agencies regarding accounts you did not open
- If you are notified of a database breach
How to Reject Identity Fraud
- Reject suspicious and unsolicited emails, phone calls, mail requesting personal and financial information
- Guard your social insurance number (SIN). Never provide your SIN over the phone, email, text or though any unsolicited link
- Do not click on links or attachments in emails/texts that are suspicious or come from an unknown sender
- Disable automatic logins where your login credentials and passwords are automatically saved
- Choose strong passwords. Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts to enhance security
- Use multi-factor authentication whenever available
- Monitor your credit by checking your credit report for unauthorized accounts opened in your name at least once a year. You can do so by contacting Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada
How to Report Identity Fraud
- Report any missing government-issued identification such as a driver's license, health card, Social Insurance Number (SIN) card or passport to the appropriate government agency
- Report any compromised government identification to the affected government agency
- Report any mail that's been re-routed or tampered with to Canada Post
- Report unauthorized transactions or suspicious account activity to your financial institution
- Report illicit activity on your credit report to the credit bureaus Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada
- Contact relevant service provider if you lose access to your email, social media or other online accounts
If you believe you have been the victim of cybercrime or identity fraud, report it immediately to your local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If you are not a victim but have detected suspicious activity, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. By staying informed and vigilant, you can help protect yourself from identity fraud.
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