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This is a scene from a movie called "Identity Theft" where the male on the left has to try to convince and do all he can to make the girl on the right give him his identity back.

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Your identity is a really big deal in the society. It can help you find a job and apply for loans or credit cards or even cars. It is one of the most important things that you can have in this day and age. We are known by who we are and what we do. And if your identity gets frauded or theft it does a really great amount of harm to your reputation and future. Which is why you should always take care and be careful of your identity.

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Equifax Canada offers tips on preventing Identity Theft

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Hey readers!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my padlet wall, I hope that I will be able to teach and give ways on how to avoid Identity Theft, and also ways to prevent it. Another aspect that you will also be able to take out from this post is what to do when or if you get caught in one of these predicaments.

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This image of the 2010-2016 chart shows of the rate of identity thefts in Canada per 100 000 residents.

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This video is an example of how easy it was for a hacker or random person, to divert this mans mail to another address and how blind to the eye something like this can be. All he had to do was pay a certain amount and answer secret questions. Which would make you wonder how could this person have gotten all of the personal/secret questions. With the identity of this man being stolen it resulted in 6 or 7 credit cards opened in his name.
What I got from this video is that not everybody is aware or trained to how identity fraud could happen or be dealt with. Which is why it should be taught more on regularly

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Ottawa man says his mail was diverted and identity stolen

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The first part of this website talks about "guarding your personal information". The website says to protect your pin, or any password and that they should not be simple to the common person.
Lastly, you should be cautious about what you put out on the internet and on your social media accounts.
The website also speaks on only bringing what you need with you and leaving all the important documents at home in a safe and secure place.

One thing I learned from reading this is that you can be pinpointed anywhere in the world simply by the pictures you take or even the WiFi you use.

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Identity Theft - Entire Collection | Canadian Consumer Handbook

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The Consumer Handbook is intended to help you become a better-informed and more confident consumer. It offers information on online shopping, contracts, housing and home renovations, identity theft, collection agencies, and much more, to help you build your buying skills.

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Warning Signs
Some warning signs can include unwanted or unsolicited:
Email
Phone Calls
Text Messages
Or anything suspicious looking for your personal information
You should always check your bank statements and update your information whenever something changes ie. address.
Notify banks or other places with your personal information when you think something is suspicious to make sure. Take extra caution when in public if you're checking any personal information. Especially passwords and card or account numbers.

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Identity theft refers to the preparatory stage of acquiring and collecting someone else's personal information for criminal purposes. Identity theft techniques can range from unsophisticated, such as dumpster diving and mail theft, to more elaborate schemes, such as phishing, job scams, loan scams, service scams, tax scams, bank investigator scams, and investment scams. Computer spywares and viruses, designed to help thieves acquire personal information, are an emerging trend.

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You want to have very good and strong passwords that again, are not you birthday/ year or mothers name etc. You want a password that would be very difficult to guess. And usually people use one password for multiple accounts which could be a bad thing because if one person finds out one your passwords, tries them on multiple of your accounts and it works all or most of your information is at risk. You should always try to change your password every so often and you can even keep a reminder on your phone or calendar to do so.

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Identifying and preventing identity theft

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This book by Lisa Wonja speaks on  how you can learn to keep your identity safe, how to recognize scams and how criminals target their victims.

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Call your credit card provider
Call them and make them aware of the situation as soon as you think or is proof of fraud so you will be able to cancel the card.
Call the Police
Once you called your credit card provider and reported to the police, get a copy of the report so that you can have proof for the future of the investigation
Review your credit score
To make sure none of your other personal information was taken as well, and that nothing major has been changed to your credit history/name. Like opening another "mortgage" or something that they could claim as theirs
One piece I found useful on this section of the website is that I did not know that you could have someone open an additional mortgage or line of credit with your name. Which is really good to know.

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Each year thousands of Canadians fall victim to identity theft. In 2014, there were 20,611 ID Fraud victims, with combined losses of $10.5 million from ID fraud. (Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)

While the growing ubiquity of the Internet has made it easier than ever to accomplish everyday tasks like banking and communicating, this convenience comes at a cost. As we rely more heavily on technology, it has left us vulnerable to criminals on the prowl for personal information. If you don't want to be the next victim, read on to find out what identity theft is, and how to protect yourself.

What is Identity Theft?

Identity theft comes in many forms. It can range from petty crimes like stealing mail from your mail box to high-tech methods like hacking into your computer. Even supposedly secure government websites aren't safe from identity theft; Canada Revenue Agency was recently the victim of a massive security breach where 900 SINs were stolen.

The results of identity theft can be devastating. Not only can victims have their credit history damaged, they can suffer losses in the tens of thousands of dollars. This can make it especially difficult to get a loan if you're planning to purchase a house or car in the near future. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, payment card fraud is the most common form of fraud, yet it's a crime that often goes unpunished, as many cardholders choose not to report it.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Today it's more important than ever as a consumer to be a lot more cautious when disclosing personal information. If you want to avoid being just another statistics, you need to do a better job safeguarding personal information like your credit card information, SIN, and address. While a lot of these tips can seem like common sense, being lax in your daily life can leave you open to identity theft.

Personal Information: Be careful when sharing personal information. Sharing personal information can range from purchasing goods or services online to completing a job application. When disclosing personal information, you should ask how it will be used, why it is required, and who it will be shared with. You should be especially careful when disclosing your SIN. If your SIN falls into the wrong hands, it can damage your credit history. When it doubt, it's best to leave your SIN off application forms if possible.

Your Purse or Wallet: A lost or stolen purse or wallet can be a treasure-trove for criminals. When carrying your purse or wallet, it's best to leave as much personal information at home as possible. If you're in the habit of bringing your SIN card with you everywhere, you should break the habit and only bring it with you when absolutely necessary.

Credit Cards: You should be especially careful when it comes to sharing your credit card information. Although most major credit cards offer zero liability protection, there are still important steps you should take to as a cardholder. You should be very careful when giving out your credit card information over the Internet or phone. You should only disclose your credit card information to reputable retailers. When it comes to carrying your credit card, it's important to choose a PIN that's difficult for criminals to figure out. It's best to avoid obvious choices like your birthday or street number.

Steps to take if you're the Victim of Identity Theft

If you suspect you're the victim of identity theft, it's important to act quickly. Here are some steps you should take:

Phone Your Credit Card Issuer: If you suspect you're the victim of fraud, contact your credit card issuer immediately. Most issuers have a 24-hour toll-free hotline to report fraud and theft. Although most credit cards issuers offer zero liability protection, it's your responsibility as a cardholder to report any signs of fraud right away.

Phone the Police: Once you've notified your credit card issuer, you should report the crime to your local police department. Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report, as it can come in handy when disputing fraudulent charges with your issuer.

Review Your Credit History: To make sure your other personal information hasn't been compromised, you should immediately request a copy of your credit report from credit reporting agencies, TransUnion and Equifax. You should notify the agencies of the suspected fraud; this will let you know if a criminal tries to fraudulently use your personal information to take out a mortgage or open a line of credit in your name.

For further advice on preventing identity theft, please visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

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How to Prevent Identity Theft, CreditCardsCanada.ca

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Each year thousands of Canadians fall victim to identity theft. In 2014, there were 20,611 ID Fraud victims, with combined losses of $10.5 million from ID fraud. (Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) While the growing ubiquity of the Internet has made it easier than ever to accomplish everyday tasks like banking and communicating, this convenience comes at a cost.