My Lost Identity

It was a typical Saturday of seemingly endless errands and appointments.  Maria’s first order of business was a visit to her local bank machine.  Once there, she inserted her debit card and entered her PIN, as she has done countless times before.  Instead of the usual reminder to collect her money and receipt, the screen flashed a message informing her that her debit card has been retained and advised her to contact her financial institution immediately.  Once on the phone, she was informed that there has been a possible security breach regarding her account and the account has subsequently been frozen.

Fear and anger filled her mind as she stood there lost and penniless.  After the agonizing wait until Monday morning for her branch to open, she learned that hundreds of dollars were fraudulently withdrawn from her account by an unknown individual.  She started to think back to her purchases and activities the week before. Several incidents now came to mind as suspicious.  Could it have been the oddly placed ATM machine in that sketchy convenience store?  Could it have been that merchant who double swiped her card during a transaction in a crowded video store? How about the customer at the ATM who asked for her assistance?

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Such events can leave you feeling victimized and vulnerable.  Fraud affects thousands of Canadians every year.  Fraud can take many forms and can happen to anyone, even the most careful consumer. Everyone should do their part to prevent fraud.  Awareness can reduce your chances of becoming a victim.  Many fraudulent acts are preventable by practicing due diligence and trusting your instincts.

Be aware that there is a marked increase in fraudulent activities during difficult economic times. A downturn in the economy often means an increase in illegal activity.  There is also an increase in individuals and groups operating fraud operations internationally as a way to avoid prosecution.

March is Fraud Awareness Month and Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is educating Canadian businesses and consumers on how to recognize it, report it and stop it.  The Competition Bureau offers great online tools such as an interactive fraud quiz, letters from victims, and prevention tips.

Credit card fraud can happen several ways. Your card could be lost or stolen and used to purchase goods and services.  A criminal could obtain your card number and expiry date and use this information to create counterfeit cards.  You could inadvertently give a criminal your card number and expiry date over the phone or Internet.  Banks and credit card companies take credit card fraud very seriously and have highly sophisticated security systems and teams of fraud experts to monitor transactions, protect customers and prevent and detect credit card fraud.  Banks and major credit card companies have begun to introduce chip technology for debit and credit cards.  The implementation of chip-based technology has already begun and plan for widespread use by 2010.

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Preventative tips:

• Always protect your personal identification number (PIN) – when selecting a PIN, avoid simple and obvious number combinations such as telephone number, date of birth.
• Memorize your PIN. If you must write it down never keep it in your wallet or purse.
• Never give your PIN or lend your cards to ANYONE.
• Always use your hand to shield the entry of your PIN.

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• Change your PIN on a regular basis.
• Know where your cards are at all times.  Never leave them unattended.
• When making a purchase, keep your cards in view at all time.
• Watch to make sure it is not “double swiped” if the merchant swipes your card for you.
• Make sure to retrieve your card after using the ABM or at merchant, and ensure it is your card.
• Carry only the cards you need when going out or traveling.

• Never provide your credit card number over the phone unless you are dealing with a reputable, known company.
• Conduct your ATM and debit transaction when and where you feel most secure.
• If using drive-through ATMs, ensure all your doors are locked and all other windows are closed.
• Beware of anyone trying to distract you at an ATM.
• Always print the transaction receipt and confirm all transactions and charges are correct.
• Review your account statements, passbooks and online activity on a regular basis. Report any discrepancies.
• Review your daily withdrawal limits.  It you do not need a high daily limit, have it reduced.

Identity thieves steal key pieces of your personal information such as social insurance numbers, driver’s licence numbers, credit cards, debit cards, banking information, birth certificates and passports.  They use this information to impersonate you and commit crimes in your name such as massive spending, opening bank accounts, diverting mail, and applying for loans, credit cards and social benefits.

Protect yourself:

• Be careful who you share personal information with.
• When you are asked to provide personal information, ask how it will be used, why it is needed, whom it will be shared with how it will be safeguarded.
• Be particularly careful with your social insurance number (SIN). Do not offer it unless legally required.  Don’t carry your SIN card.  Store it in a secure location.
• Only provide personal information by phone, mail or internet when you have initiated the contact and can ensure the communication channel is secure.
• Keep statements in a safe place.
• Guard your mail.  Ensure mail is forwarded or re-routed if you move.
• If you use online banking, ensure that you protect yourself by using an updated browser and by installing a personal firewall and the latest anti-virus software.
• Shred or tear receipts, pay stubs, statements, etc. before putting them in the garbage.  Identity thieves may pick through your garbage.
• Pay attention to your billing cycle.  If a bill fails to arrive, contact the company to ensure they have not been illicitly redirected.
• Access your credit report from a credit reporting agency once a year to ensure it’s accurate.
• Sign all your cards in permanent ink as soon as you receive them.
• Make a list of all your cards and their numbers and store in a secure location.
• Never sign a blank cheque or charge slip.

In the unfortunate event that you lose your wallet, make sure to immediately cancel and replace all your credit cards and personal information.  Once you have replaced all your identification, make a photocopy and keep them in a secure place. Service Canada provides a helpful list to assist you through the process of replacement your cards and identification.