Wallet

Ö        Carry only essential ID such as your driver’s licence and health card. Leave your social insurance number (SIN) card, passport and birth certificate in a safe place, such as a locked cabinet at home or a safety deposit box at the bank.

Credit cards

Ö        Keep track of when credit card bills are supposed to arrive, and call the company if they’re late.

Ö        Review all credit card and bank statements to make sure there are no unauthorized purchases.

Ö        Check your credit report annually. Major credit reporting bureaus provide one free report each year.

Mail

Ö        If possible, use a locked mailbox or one with a drop slot so no one can steal your mail. If you use a regular box, pick up your mail as promptly as possible after it is delivered.

Ö        Shred or destroy items with your name and address, such as preapproved credit card offers, insurance and loan applications, bills, and credit card receipts. Don’t discard them in your recycling or waste bins.

Ö        If you are going to be away from home, arrange for a trusted neighbour to pick up your mail. If this is impossible, Canada Post provides a mail-holding service for a fee.

Phone

Ö        Don’t give out credit card numbers or other personal information over the phone unless it’s to a trusted person or you initiated the call yourself.

Ö        If someone calls offering an ‘exceptional offer’ or to conduct a survey, do not disclose your personal information. Reputable firms never ask for personal information without significant safeguards.

Ö        Teach your children about the risks of identity theft and advise them not to answer any questions from strangers over the telephone. Encourage them to tell you when they receive a suspicious call.

Computer

Ö        Make sure your computer has firewalls, virus protection and online security and privacy safeguards. 

Ö        Your online accounts should only be accessible with passwords that you create and change often. Your passwords should be hard for anyone to guess.

Ö        When you shop or bank online, or fill out online forms, look for the padlock symbol at the lower right corner of your screen. This symbol means the information you provide is secure.

Ö        When you log on to your e-mail or bank account from a library or other public computer, make sure no one can watch over your shoulder as you type in your password and other private information. Log out when you leave.

Ö        Be careful about any personal information you divulge online, including in chat rooms and over social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Ö        Be suspicious of e-mails that appear to come from financial institutions or government agencies and that ask you to provide personal information online. Real governments and banks don’t do that, but scammers will often hijack their logos to make fraudulent messages look authentic.

Ö        Delete any e-mail soliciting funds unless you can verify independently (e.g. with a phone call) that it’s from a reputable organization.

 Click here to view a brochure on Identity theft provided by the Privacy Commissioner