Posted in Money Matters
When someone uses personal information such as your name, social insurance number (SIN), credit card number or other identifying information without your knowledge or permission, it is identity theft and it is a crime. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing types of fraud, but there are ways to protect yourself.
One of the simplest things you can do to protect your identity is to pay attention to details. It can make a difference.
- Once a year, get a copy of your credit report from one of the major credit reporting agencies. The report tells you what information a credit bureau has about your credit history, financial information, collection activity and who has asked for your information. By checking, you can spot debts that aren’t yours and see who has been asking about you. Follow up if a lender or credit-card issuer has asked for a report and you haven’t applied for credit or a card from them. Someone else may be using your name. If you discover incorrect information on your file, have the information corrected.
- Know when your credit card, other financial statements and utility bills are due. if they don’t arrive on schedule call the bank. An identity thief may have changed the billing address or the statements may have been stolen from your mailbox.
- Know when your credit card expires. If the replacement card hasn’t arrived, call the credit card company. Someone may have stolen the new card from the mail or changed the mailing address.
- Keep credit card, debit card and banking machine receipts so you can match them to your statements.
- Be wary of mail, phone or Internet promotions asking for personal information. identity thieves often use bogus offers to persuade you to give them your information.
- Keep a list of the names, account numbers and expiration dates of your credit cards in a safe place This will help you when alerting credit card companies about a lost or stolen card.
- Memorize all passwords and personal identification numbers. Don’t write them down
- Protect your PIN. When you enter a personal identification number or password, make sure no one is watching
