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By Claire McKernan

This image depicts the steps to take immediately after discovering that someone has stolen your credit card information. In order for a thief to not steal your identity further you should take the following steps depicted in the image:

1) Remain calm

2) Review your transactions and notify the bank

3) Call the police

4) Notify the credit card bureau

5) File a statement

6) Keep an eye on your assets

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By Jamie Ly

Listed are some identity theft and fraud statistics:
1) 1 in 5 people lost money from identity fraud scams
2) Younger people are affected more than older people
3) People aged 70+ had a higher median loss than younger people
4) Credit card fraud is rising by 23%
5) There are over a million fraud reports

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Identity Theft Explained by Claire McKernan & Jamie Ly

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Identity Theft Explained by Claire McKernan & Jamie Ly

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We will explore valuable information and introduce helpful tips to keep you protected from identity theft!

Identity theft and identity fraud is a criminal offence. Identity theft is stealing a person's personal information (i.e., credit card number, SIN, address and etc). Identity fraud is when stolen personal information is being used to complete purchases on one's behalf.

Being aware of what these situations are and how to handle and report these situations in Canada is important in personal, financial, medical and other aspects of your life.

We hope these videos, websites, and images help you to protect your identity and your future.

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By Claire McKernan

Three helpful tips are introduced in this video that can help the viewer avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Guarding against identity theft by using different passwords for all personal accounts is the first step. The secondary step is to discover identity theft sooner rather than later. Lastly the third tip is to place a fraud alert on your accounts since it will notify you when strange purchases are made and flag them for you before your identity is stolen.

I found this video to be interesting because it shares how important it is to act fast and check on your finances frequently. I do check mine regularly, but I didn’t realize there are ways to check your credit score online and thieves can find a way to infiltrate your accounts that way. I enjoyed the way they shared the information in a step by step process, it made it clear for viewers to take the natural steps to avoid identity theft.

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By Claire McKernan
The following video describes 12 tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. The first 4 steps discuss ways to avoid identity theft in public; use a mobile app to pay, limit the number of cards in your wallet, and swipe or tap your own card. The next 4 steps include: being aware of the potential threats to online identity. Do not give out important information over the phone or the internet without authorization or give any copies of legal documents to unknown parties. It is also important to shred, update contact info, check all your finances actively and get fraud alerts.

The tips listed in this video helped me personally realize the steps I take to ensure my identity is not stolen. I am well aware of scams on the phone and internet, I avoid giving out any personal information to third parties. I always shred my old credit cards and I actively check my bills for suspicious activity. This video reiterated to me that I am comfortable in protecting my identity from being stolen.

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Tips To Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

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By Jamie Ly
This video demonstrates how important it is for cashiers to recognize signs that someone could have stolen someone's identity. The man in this video is going on a massive spending spree and does not seem to care about sales or what he is spending the money on. He also wants to get the items and get out as fast as he could. This is a big red flag.

I believe if a customer is making a payment with a credit card their identity should be checked to ensure it is not identity theft and/or fraud. This video suggests to look if the signatures match on the credit card and on the receipt. In this case it is both identity theft and fraud because he is stealing someone else's identity to commit a fraud. It's interesting how easily thieves can get our information from one transaction.

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Youve probably heard of debit and credit card fraud. But have you heard how to beat it? Watch this video by the Bank of Canada and its partners to see how you can protect your credit and debit cards. Be sure to check out more videos on our channel.

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By Jamie Ly

This CBC Marketplace video shows that most people think they are taking extra precautions in protecting their personal information. However, this video proved that thought wrong.The CBC journalist went to several houses to notify people of their identity being stolen and they were all shocked. One woman even said she was taking extra precautions in protecting herself because she had her identity stolen before. They also tested various credit card companies and the results concluded that not all the credit card users were notified about the possible fraud.

Sometimes it is difficult to 100% protect someone’s identity - even if we are taking extra precautions! I think it is good to research a credit card company before you get one because you want to make sure it is reliable and safe.

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Identity theft: How criminals use a low-interest credit card scam to steal from you (Marketplace)

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By Claire McKernan

The Canadian Banker's association delivers tips about learning the signs of identity theft and what actions to take when it happens. Basically if you are contacted by your credit card company, a creditor or collection agency with false information regarding your accounts you should report this activity immediately to authorities. You need to be vigilant and immediately cancel accounts, and contact credit companies.

Watching out for signs of identity theft is crucial in catching it early before identity becomes completely compromised. I chose this website because it is a great resource for the steps to take if you become a victim. Everyone's instinct is to panic and cancel all accounts but the next steps of notifying police and setting up a secure network so it won't happen again is key to preventing identity theft.

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Learn the signs of identify theft and how to protect yourself

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Identity theft, or the theft of personal information, can be the starting point to a range of crimes - from financial fraud and forgery to abuse of government programs.

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By Claire McKernan

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada summarizes the do's and don't of protecting your identity. Before you share information with others ask yourself questions as to whether it is necessary. By monitoring your online banking, discarding mail appropriately, carrying essential identification, avoiding phone scams, and being vigilant online you can protect your identity.

I chose this particular article because it is important to know the risks you take when you do not keep your personal finances private. Asking yourself essential questions can really make a difference in what you do or don't share with potential criminals. It is important to understand that steps need to be taken in order to avoid becoming a victim.

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Identity theft includes everything from cheque forgery and the use of stolen credit cards to sophisticated scams in which an impostor adopts another person's identity to gain access to their assets.

Identity fraud and identity theft are criminal offences in Canada. With today's proliferation of technology, stealing identities in order to commit fraud has become a very lucrative business.

Cloaked in your stolen identity, a fraudster can cash your cheques, raid your bank accounts, bilk your credit card company and even load a big mortgage on your house.

Identity thieves have many ways to get their hands on your personal information. Some simply steal old bills or preprinted credit card offers discarded in waste or recycling bins. Others exploit information lost or stolen from retailers, other businesses and even government bodies.

Protect yourself

Take steps to protect yourself from unscrupulous criminals by limiting the amount of information you give out about yourself. Read on to learn more about how to safeguard your identity and stay safe from fraud. Incorporating these tips into your life doesn't take long, but will lessen the chances that your personal information winds up in the wrong hands.

Tips for reducing the risk of identity theft

Be careful about sharing personal information or letting it circulate freely. When you are asked to provide personal information, you should ask:

how it will be used

why it is needed

who will be sharing it

how it will be safeguarded

if there are any risks of harm or other consequences

Do not give out more than necessary.

Be particularly careful about your birth date and your Social Insurance Number ( SIN). Your SIN is an important key to your identity, especially in credit reports and computer databases. Don't share it unless absolutely necessary.

Talk with your children about identity theft and how to minimize the risk.

Credit cards and banking

Keep track of when credit card bills are supposed to arrive, and call the company if they're late. Review all credit card and bank statements to make sure there are no unauthorized purchases.

If you do online banking, consult your statement frequently to check for any anomalies. Avoid connecting to your bank while using public Wi-Fi as the connection is not secure and others may be able to capture the data you are sending.

You can also create a separate account on your computer that you only use for banking and other online financial activities. You can protect this account with a unique password.

Mail

Use a locked mailbox or one with a drop slot to prevent mail theft. If you use a regular box, pick up your mail as promptly as possible after it is delivered. Ensure your mail is forwarded if you move.

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 until they have been properly shredded.

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

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.

If someone calls unexpectedly and requests your personal or financial information, try calling the organization they are representing to verify that the request is legitimate. Reputable firms never ask for personal information without significant safeguards.

Wallet

Carry only essential ID such as your driver's licence and health card. Leave your SIN card, passport and birth certificate in a safe place.

Do not let private organizations make copies of your ID documents unless there is a legitimate need and you know that they will be protected adequately. The information on the copy is as valuable as on the original document.

Online

Software

Make sure your devices are equipped with online security and privacy safeguards including, but not limited to, firewalls and virus protection. Be sure to keep the software and operating systems on your devices up to date.

Use passwords

Ensure your devices are password-protected. They are full of personal information that could be compromised if they fall into the wrong hands.

Create unique, hard-to-guess passwords for each of your online accounts and change passwords if you suspect they have been compromised. See our advice on creating and managing your passwords for more information.

Be careful in public

Whenever possible, do not engage in sensitive activities - such as online banking or online purchases - on your device when you are in public. You never know who may be watching or filming you in order to capture your personal information, such as your passwords and other personal details.

Similarly, avoid sensitive transactions when using public Wi-Fi, as the connection is not secure and others may be able to capture the data you are sending.

If you need to log on to your email 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. While not foolproof, the lock icon, HTTPS protocol or green highlighting in the address bar are all signs the site is likely secure. Be sure to log off when your transaction is complete.

Be careful online

Be careful about where and to whom you divulge or post any personal information online.

Don't reply to suspicious emails, instant messages or text messages asking you to provide personal information, even if they appear to come from financial or government institutions. Call the bank or other institution if you have doubts.

Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you are not using them. When you leave your device open by default, you leave your data vulnerable to access by others without your knowledge or consent whenever you pass through cafés and other places offering open, public wireless networks.

Social media like Twitter and Facebook are great for keeping in touch with friends, but can also be a goldmine for identity thieves. It's a good idea to limit identifying information you post, and not to share your location. See our advice on staying safe on social media for more tips on how to protect yourself.

Disposing of your device

Delete all personal information from your electronic media devices before discarding, recycling or selling them. There are several ways to do this, for example by resetting to factory defaults, overwriting, reformatting or physically destroying the media.

If you become a victim

If you think you've been targeted, there are actions you should take to address the situation. Depending on the circumstances, you might need to:

Report the incident to local police if the matter involved a theft/crime

Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) if the matter involved a scam or fraud

Advise your bank and credit card companies. Request new bank or credit cards with new numerical identifiers on them

Report any missing identity documents or cards, such as a driver's licence, a health card or immigration documents to the appropriate organization

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Identity theft includes everything from cheque forgery and the use of stolen credit cards to sophisticated scams in which an impostor adopts another person's identity to gain access to their assets. Identity fraud and identity theft are criminal offences in Canada. With today's proliferation of technology, stealing identities in order to commit fraud has become a very lucrative business.

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By Jamie Ly

The Government of Canada advises to protect yourself from identity theft by understanding the consequences and minimizing risks. One of these is phishing.
A large amount of people fall for phishing scams. These situations are common and involve someone pretending to be a part of a well known company by email, phone calls, websites, or other methods to request for your personal information.

Usually, if someone is being phished, it could be from someone on the phone who called and said that they need your credit card information - maybe to make a payment for the house right away or the electricity will be cut for the whole month. They make up fake situations to make the person feel like they are at risk and need to act quickly. So many people fall for these scams and give their personal information and then have lost their identity to someone. We need to be cautious of scammers and not let ourselves be phishing victims.

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By Jamie Ly

This website states that although Canadians have at least one action they do to protect their personal information, they may need to do more than just that. It also states that credit card frauds are on the rise - 42% higher since 2017 to 2019. Even more surprising is that millennials are less likely to practice protecting their personal information. Thus, this website suggests that everyone should be doing these things:
1) Double check bank statements and do it regularly
2) Use a cross-cut shredder
3) Regularly update passwords
4) Install and update security software on personal computers
5)Recognize phishing scams

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Highlights:

Canadians are taking some steps to help protect their personal information, but not adopting other protection habits

Fewer Canadians than in 2017 say they are double-checking financial statements, shredding document or installing security software on their computers

Nearly 4 in 10 Canadians say they've been the victim of identity theft

While Canadians are taking some steps to help protect their personal information, they aren't adopting other protection habits, according to an Equifax survey -- despite the fact that threats of identity theft and fraud are on the rise.

Equifax surveyed 1,565 Canadians ages 18 to 65 in February 2019. Survey respondents report they are sharing less on social media than in 2017 (43 per cent vs. 39 per cent), and more Canadians are checking their credit reports (28 per cent vs. 21 per cent).

However, fewer Canadians report in 2019 that they are double-checking financial statements, shredding personal documents or installing security software on their computers compared with 2017, according to the Equifax consumer survey.

Credit card fraud attempts have increased by 42 per cent over the past two years, according to Equifax Canada data, and suspected true name fraud (when an identity thief poses as a real person to obtain credit or access an account, for example) has also increased by 84 per cent.

"Identity theft and fraud are more complex and sophisticated than ever, which should be of growing concern for Canadians," said Tara Zecevic, vice president of fraud prevention and identity management for Equifax Canada. "... Identity thieves don't take a holiday, and they target people who make it easy for them."

Nearly 4 in 10 (37 per cent) of Canadians report having been victims of identity theft or fraud at some point, and 88 per cent of the 1,565 Canadians surveyed in 2019 say they have taken some steps to help protect their personal information. But only 59 per cent of survey respondents say they double-check their credit card statements, down from 65 per cent in 2017.

The percentage of Canadians who report shredding documents is down from 57 per cent to 52 per cent, and only 35 per cent of survey respondents said they have updated their security software, a decrease from 42 per cent in 2017.
Millennials are less concerned about protecting personal information
While 29 per cent of millennials report checking their credit reports in the 2019 survey - more than any other age group - millennials seem to be less concerned about fraud or identity theft than those of other generations.

For example, 39 per cent of millennials said they don't believe they'll be targeted for fraud because they don't have enough money, compared to 29 per cent of the general survey respondents. And 25 per cent say they don't believe identity theft will happen to them, compared with 14 per cent of the general population.

Millennials were also less likely to practice behaviors such as double-checking bank and credit card statements; shredding personal and financial documents; and updating security passwords.

"Younger adults need to recognize the importance of preventing fraud before it happens," Zecevic said. "There are so many little things consumers can do to help protect their personal information. It's simply knowing what to do and making the time to do it."
What you can do
If you're concerned about fraud or identity theft, here are some ways to help monitor and protect your information:

Double-check your credit card and bank statements to ensure there is no unfamiliar information.

Use a cross-cut shredder to dispose of documents containing personal or financial information.

Update your computer passwords regularly.

Install and update security software on your personal computer.

Don't over-share information on social media.

Learn to recognize 'phishing.' Don't give out information over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact.

Check your credit reports regularly.

The Equifax survey was conducted Feb. 1-4. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 per cent.

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Survey: Steps To Take To Help Protect Personal Information | Equifax Canada

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Highlights: Canadians are taking some steps to help protect their personal information, but not adopting other protection habits Fewer Canadians than in 2017 say they are double-checking financial statements, shredding document or installing security software on their computers Nearly 4 in 10 Canadians say they've been the victim of identity theft While Canadians are taking some steps to help protect their personal information, they aren't adopting other protection habits, according to an Equifax survey -- despite the fact that threats of identity theft and fraud are on the rise.

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1. I think I was most surprised at how much information/ tools are out there to help you keep your identity safe. We need to utilize more of it and be more aware as a society.

2. This topic is interesting to me because my cousin was a victim of identity theft and she had to make many calls and do lots of paper work in order to get her finances and credit score back in order. I realized she is not an anomaly and many others are victims of identity theft.

3. I think the most important thing to know about identity theft that I could share with someone else is to be mindful of what you put on the internet. Shop online wisely, do not use the same password for everything. Even if you trust your partner or best friends with passwords keep them to yourself because sharing them may turn out bad in the end.

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1. What did we learn that surprised us the most?                                      2 . Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you?                                             3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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1. What did we learn that surprised us the most?                                      2 . Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you?                                             3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

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1. I learned that I am currently in the millennial category and that my generation supposedly is at a higher risk of being affected by identity fraud. I also learned that a lot of people are affected by fraud and they may not even know that they're affected, which is really scary. But, now I have the knowledge to take steps in protecting myself and knowing who to call.

2. This topic is interesting to me because I had to personally deal with debit fraud about 7 years ago. When I first started using a debit card I never checked my bank account regularly. I didn't have a lot of money in my bank so I never thought about it much.

One day I was paying for food and my card was declined. When I came home and checked my bank account online I realized that for almost 6 months there were transactions on my account that I had never even made of up to $2,000 in withdrawals or paid to "Old Navy" and other random places. I never shopped there so I knew it wasn't me.

Luckily, I was able to retrieve back all my money. I took precaution in my protecting my identity and bank account after that incident. I changed my debit card, password, and everything. Now I check my bank accounts almost every day!

3. If I could pass on my knowledge to a family member or friend I would tell them that when they get their own debit or credit card to take precautions in protecting their identity! I would list some of the simple things I learned from the resources like to  always check their bank accounts and make sure that there are so suspicious activities;  change passwords every few months; and to call someone immediately.

It is important to know about identity fraud earlier rather than later. I wish I had known before I was affected by debit fraud. Knowing this information as well about who to call and what else to do would have saved a lot of stress! However, if this happens again, I will be prepared in what my steps to take are.