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Identity Theft & Fraud Protection
How Identity Thieves Get Your Personal Information
Thieves
can obtain your information in a variety of ways:
- They steal wallets and purses containing your identification and credit
and bank cards.
- They steal your mail, including your bank and credit card statements,
pre-approved credit offers, telephone calling cards and tax information.
- They complete a 'change of address' form to divert your mail to
another location.
- They rummage through your garbage or the garbage of businesses
for personal data.
- They fraudulently obtain your credit report by posing as a landlord,
employer or someone else who may have a legitimate or legal right
to the information.
- They get your business or personnel records at work.
- They find personal information in your home.
- They use personal information you share on the Internet.
- They buy your personal information from 'inside' sources - e.g.
a dishonest store employee.
How Identify Thieves Use your Personal Information:
- They call your credit card issuer and, pretending to be you, ask to increase
your credit limit and to change the mailing address on your credit card account.
The thief then runs up charges on your account and because the bills are being
sent to another address, it may take some time before you know there's a problem.
- They open a new credit card account using your name, date of birth and SIN
number. When they use the credit card and don't pay the bills, the delinquent
account is reported on your credit report.
- They establish phone or Internet service in your name.
- They open a bank account in your name and write bad cheques on that account.
- They counterfeit cheques or debt cards and drain your bank account.
- They buy cars by taking out car loans in your name.
How to Protect Yourself
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