Sadly, id theft is on the rise in Canada. In 2023, over 11,000 instances of ID fraud have been reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Fraud crimes are vastly underreported, so the entire is probably going a lot increased.
Identification theft is not simply somebody combing by your paper mail for private data. That also occurs, however what’s extra seemingly now’s that your data is being stolen on-line by hacking or a phishing rip-off, the place you might be unknowingly giving a scammer private data. Right here’s what it’s worthwhile to know—plus methods to stop additional ID theft.
What’s id theft?
Identification theft is when criminals steal your private or monetary data, like your social insurance coverage quantity (SIN), bank card quantity or checking account data, and use it to open new bank cards, apply for presidency advantages, make purchases, or entry your financial institution accounts and steal funds.
Beforehand, id thieves operated primarily by stealing envelopes from mailboxes and going by recycling bins to seek out delicate paperwork. However criminals have expanded deep into the digital world. They usually use synthetic intelligence (AI) to focus on tons of or hundreds of individuals on the similar time, impersonating a authorities or financial institution official utilizing cellphone calls, texts or emails to “phish†for private data. Scammers additionally use subtle digital instruments to hack accounts over public Wi-Fi, which means they’ll acquire entry to your financial institution accounts and extra. Anybody could be a goal of id theft.Â
Tips on how to report id theft in Canada
When you suspect your id has been stolen, don’t look forward to verification—report the crime to your native police. When you imagine your SIN has been stolen, report this to Service Canada by calling 1-866-274-6627. You also needs to contact the CAFC so it could compile statistics on how prevalent this downside is. Fill out data on-line within the Fraud Reporting System or contact the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501.
Then it’s worthwhile to contact the Canadian credit score bureaus, together with Equifax, to allow them to flag your file and notify you if anybody tries to open a bank card or take out a mortgage in your identify. Additionally pay shut consideration to your credit score scores and credit score stories, additionally obtainable by Equifax, for indicators of suspicious exercise.
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Equifax Full Safety is a credit score and cybersecurity safety service designed to assist Canadians spot the indicators of id fraud quicker.
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It’s confirmed, your id has been stolen—now what?
As soon as your id has been stolen, you’re prone to be focused once more. When scammers steal somebody’s id, they usually promote the info to a 3rd celebration, who will attempt to contact the sufferer—they’re now seen as a simple goal for different crimes.
Chances are you’ll end up on the receiving finish of extra phishing scams from unsolicited numbers or pretend financial institution staff. Plus, when you place protecting measures at your banks and credit score bureau, it could be tougher so that you can open a brand new account—you could have to undergo a number of verification checks. If the thief hurts your credit score rating by opening and utilizing bank cards, then it could even be difficult so that you can open new bank cards and apply for loans. And this may have an effect on your monetary life for a really very long time—probably years.Â