# data[].attributes.body
Hello! My name is Frances and welcome to my padlet wall about identity theft. Here you will learn:

How to protect yourself from identity theft

The types of identity theft

How auto fraud is caused by identity theft

Identity fraud in the Indigenous community

Videos of news reports about identity theft

Infographic images about identity theft

Who to contact if you or anyone are a victim

My thoughts about this topic

# data[].attributes.headline
Website 1: Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.subject
Website 1: Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.body
According to the website, the definition of identity theft is when someone from a third party has illegally used your personal information. These includes sensitive information including social insurance number, address, date of birth, etc. The website also list of ways you can do to protect yourself and others from identity theft. It also mentions phishing scams, which are emails that looks like from an official company but has malicious intent. Please be careful when clicking on a link from an email you are not expecting to receive. There is also a list of ways to minimize risk. At the bottom of the website, there are phone numbers and ways for you to do if you think your identity has been stolen.

The reason why I chose this website is because it is made by the government of Canada. In other words, I trust this website to be informative and helpful for many Canadians who would want to know what to do when they or anyone they know fall victim to identity fraud. This website is short and has a bullet point list to make it easy to read and understand which I like.

# data[].attributes.body
This website is about the numerous types of identity theft, and it highlights the different ways your personal information is stolen, to be cautious of when your information is being asked from suspicious emails, phone calls, mails, and text messages, and to always review your bank account such as credit reports and credit card statements. This website talks about the different financial frauds that relates to identity theft, it includes tax, child, senior, estate, and criminal identity thefts. Just like the previous website, this one also explains ways to minimize the risks of identity theft.

The reason why I chose this website is because it is made by Equifax, which was one of the contacts you can find at the end of the first website I posted. This website basically adds on from the previous website. It is also very simple and easy to read.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Types of Identity Theft | Equifax Canada

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about the different kinds of fraud and identity theft and how to help protect yourself against them.

# data[].attributes.headline
Website 3: Auto Fraud Caused By Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.subject
Website 3: Auto Fraud Caused By Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.body
While at first glance this website may not be about identity theft but after reading through the article, I realized how much of the auto fraud is because of identity theft. This website mentions a report from Equifax Canada and how much fraud specifically on the automotive industry has increased over the years. The article mentions the most common type of illegal action was when a renter changes a part of their credentials. More specifically the employment income. Another more common illegal action is when someone wants to own a car, the person would steal another’s identity. It is also mentioned how popular auto fraud has become because it can be difficult to identify the theft. It is also said when criminals make a new identity, they use real and fake information. There are also dozens of organized crimes that are involved. At the end, it is suggesting to always monitor your accounts for any suspicious activities.

The reason why I chose this website is because it is from Global News, a well-known news company, and they also reference the Equifax Canada. Also, I did not know how much of auto fraud is dependent on identity theft. I decided to share this article on my padlet wall to inform as many people as possible about this kind of crime.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Auto fraud is on the rise in Canada - but the culprits might not be who you think.

A new report released by Equifax Canada showed automotive fraud was up by 54 per cent year over year, and the credit bureau said it is largely driven by the continued prevalence of identity theft and falsified credit applications.

Carl Davies, head of fraud, identity and compliance at Equifax, told Global News that first-party fraud, where the borrower may use their own credentials but change something like employment income, is the most common type of misrepresentation - something he adds is illegal.

He said costs like rent, mortgages, interest rates, upcoming mortgage renewals and a tough job market all contribute.

"The potential for that first-party fraud will increase because 'I need a car in order to take my kids to school or to get to work," Davies said.

Story continues below advertisement

He added that while dealerships typically do a credit check before giving out a car, Equifax has still seen first-party fraud "across the board" from both top lenders and below prime-type businesses.

When asked what percentage this would amount to, Davies said approximately 60 to 65 per cent of auto fraud is first-party, while the other 35 to 40 per cent is third-party - where a "bad actor" steals someone's identity or takes over accounts in order to obtain a vehicle - or organized crime.

Davies said auto fraud has become appealing to criminals, especially as he said there's little recourse because it can be difficult to identify the perpetrator and bring prosecution.

Get breaking National news

"The high value of assets when we think about automotive fraud is very attractive to criminals. Relatively liquid asset compared to some other items, they can resell out pretty quickly, ship it overseas, which I know is a big issue that we see today," he said.

Story continues below advertisement

With the amount of technology easily available, Davies said it's allowed for identity fraud to occur at a broader level through text message or phishing scams. Equifax said older consumers with high credit scores are increasingly being targeted, in part because they may be "less savvy" in detecting those scams.

But Equifax warns it's not just regular identity theft that's occurring and being used for auto fraud.

More on Canada More videos

Synthetic identity fraud increased from 2.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2023 to eight per cent this year. This type of fraud sees a criminal combine real and fake data to create new identities, such as changing a date of birth or first name "just enough for it to make it look like a different individual than the person whose identity that you've stolen."

For Canadians who commit first-party fraud, it may provide short-term gains for the consumer but loan denials, damaged credit and even legal issues could arise in the long run.

Davies says cases of organized crime or third-party auto fraud are similar to auto thefts being seen in Canada with someone using another person's identity to get a vehicle, which they then drive to a port and have shipped overseas. This not only leaves the person whose identity was stolen with the cost of the vehicle but could also mean increased insurance premiums for many Canadians because more thefts are occurring.

Story continues below advertisement

There are things you can do to protect yourself from rising auto fraud, such as not clicking links when you don't know who they're from; if suspicious of an email or text from a company or bank, call them directly; and monitor your credit reports so you can detect if someone has applied for an account in your name.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Auto fraud is up 54% in Canada - and culprits may not be who you think - National | Globalnews.ca

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The report released by Equifax Canada showed automotive fraud was up by 54 per cent year over year, with identity theft and falsified credit applications largely driving the rise.

# data[].attributes.headline
Website 4: Concerns About Indigenous Identity Fraud

# data[].attributes.subject
Website 4: Concerns About Indigenous Identity Fraud

# data[].attributes.body
In this article, CTV News talks about the rising concerns of Indigenous identity fraud because of how the government of Canada defines who is and is not an Indigenous person. Many leaders of these communities have seen the impacts of these frauds, especially at an individual level at work, school and online. There are many people who falsely claim they are from an Indigenous heritage. This, of course, damages the trust from the community. The Indigenous peoples also mention how verifying identities needs to be from the community itself as they understand their culture and heritage better. The article ends on a quote from the Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, that I think is important, “A country grappling with its colonial past and a path forward where people are respected.”

The reason why I chose this website, more specifically this article is because it talks about the Indigenous community. I would have never known that this kind of identity fraud could happen and that many issues are happening in the community. I decided to also share this in my padlet wall to inform everyone about this.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Concern over Indigenous identity fraud heightened by government definitions: minister

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations says a lot of talk about the issue of so-called Indigenous identity fraud is based around apprehensions people have about the government defining who is -- and who isn’t -- a rights-holder.

# data[].attributes.body
1. What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?

I learned that identity fraud does not only happen to working adults but to children, Indigenous communities, can occur in automotive and real estate or caused by A.I. and organized crime. This very concerning and we need everyone to be aware of such possible fraud.

2. Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.

Fortunately, I have never experience such identity theft, although the video about Tickmaster is very interesting because everyone I knew uses this website to buy tickets for concerts of their favourite music artist. Everyone who uses this website needs to watch that video and be aware of the risks of using it.

3. If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?

The most important thing I would pass my knowledge of this topic is to be aware of the types of identity theft and what to do such as the resources provided by the websites when you or someone else you know is a victim of the fraud.

# data[].attributes.body
This image is an infographic that displays a protection guide against identity theft. Based on this image there are five ways to protect yourself. First is conceal. It suggests to only use one credit card and never provide your social security number unless required. Second is track. It suggests downloading an app that tracks your devices to avoid losing them and have a remote lock system so that when your device goes missing it auto locks it. Third is to use VPN. When using a VPN, it protects the user’s personal data from leaking while using the internet. Forth is secure. It suggests avoiding using common words and only use strong passwords. It also suggests using a two-factor authentication. Lastly is monitor. It suggests to often check your activity on your accounts and to set up an alert if any suspicious activity occurs.

The reason why I chose this image is because I like how concise it is. Despite how simple this image looks; it is visually appealing while also very informative. It has a clean look, and the information is well put together. A viewer can learn a lot from this image without being overwhelmed.

# data[].attributes.body
This image is also an infographic, but this displays how likely a child’s identity is stolen more than an adult. This image has data from a 2012 Javelin study and is provided by the Centre for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin. There are four numbered data that this image provided. One was how at least a child under the age of 18 has their personal information compromised. Another was how likely the social security number was misused or stolen. Thirdly was when their child’s identity was scanned during the study, there was evidence of stolen identity. Lastly, numerous children’s identities showed up in the wrong places. Suggested that it was used for malicious intent.

The reason why I chose this image because I was shocked that there are criminals that will steal children’s identities. Like the previous image, this one is very clean and simple to look at. The information it provided is also well put together and the data is displayed visually and easy to understand. Another reason why I chose to put this on my padlet wall because I want everyone to be aware that it does not matter age, anyone can fall victim in an identity theft.

# data[].attributes.headline
Video 1: Woman With More Than 20 Identities

# data[].attributes.subject
Video 1: Woman With More Than 20 Identities

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, news from 2019 by CBC states that a 24-year-old woman named Natalia Bozek is a victim of identity theft. Money from her bank disappeared and about 20 different applications of purchases of expensive items such as an apartment and a car were made. RBC froze Natalia’s bank account then refunded several thousand dollars to Natalia. She asked RBC for credit protection but was decline because they accused her for possibly compromising her account, but Natalia rejects it. The theft was a 26-year-old woman named Deborah, who was accused by Toronto police services in four different areas, was only arrested after Natalia’s case. This angered many of Deborah’s victims as she was only given 90 days in prison, because she could just do it again after her sentence.

The reason why I chose this video because of the video title. The fact that one person could steal this many identities and was only arrested after Natalia’s case frightened me. If four police areas were aware of her, why did it take this long to arrest her and not arrest her after the first victim? How many of her victims was compensated for their loss? Is she still in prison or is she somewhere out there pretending to be another person? Will she ever learn?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Prolific identity thief has at least 50 victims, police say

# data[].attributes.headline
Video 2: Ticketmaster Hacked & A.I. the Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.subject
Video 2: Ticketmaster Hacked & A.I. the Identity Theft

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, the news is only a few months old! Global News states that Ticketmaster was hacked for the second time during the summer. The news reporter mentions that your personal information such as name, credit card, address could be compromised. He also said if you recently bought tickets to keep an eye on your bank accounts for any suspicious activity and any apps you use on your mobile devices such as bank accounts to have two-factor authentication to minimize the risks for stolen data. Halfway through the video, the reporters mention A.I. They state that because of how advanced it has become to the point it can mimic a real person’s voice and likeness; identity theft is on the rise. It can copy the voice of someone you know and ask for things such as money. A.I has made scams more difficult to identify who is real or fraud.

The reason why I chose this video because of Ticketmaster. Anyone who goes to music concerts has used this website to purchase tickets. The fact that Ticketmaster was hacked for the second time made me worry about their security. Prices on the website is one thing but the safety of your data is another major problem. I do hope they put more effort in their security to prevent future data breaches.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ticketmaster Hack: How to protect yourself from identity theft | Watch News Videos Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Watch Ticketmaster Hack: How to protect yourself from identity theft Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

# data[].attributes.body
In this video, another news by Global News last year about cases on title fraud on houses. The definition of title fraud by the reporter is when a thief steals the title to your house and can now sell your home or apply for a new mortgage against it. In other words, the homeowner’s identity is stolen. It's reported that insurance companies in Toronto are investigating cases of these title frauds are from organized crime groups. These criminals are looking for houses that are unoccupied, high equity value, or low or mortgage free. Afterwards they research the homeowners, steal their identities and create new ones to fool real estate agents and lawyers.

The reason I chose this video is just like the other videos before this one, I did not expect to happen. Purchasing or renting a place is already difficult as it is with how expensive to rent, let alone to buy one. Learning about this news made it even more difficult to look for houses. Also, the fact that it is not just one person but a whole group of criminals is just frustrating. I do hope there is an authentic way to identity if the person is not a fraud or stolen identity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Canadians can prevent title fraud on their home

# data[].attributes.headline
Video 4: Identities Stolen by Low Interest Rate Scam

# data[].attributes.subject
Video 4: Identities Stolen by Low Interest Rate Scam

# data[].attributes.body
This video is 20 minutes long but very informative. It was posted a few years ago by CBC News and it talks about how criminals outside of Canada using low-interest rate to scam Canadians. The news reporter has obtained a list of Canadian with personal information such as SIN, their home address and credit cards. They visited the Canadians on the list to show and explain the use low-interest rate scam. Later, they explain how TransUnion and Equifax have credit monitoring to alert Canadians if someone tries to use their information to open new credit cards accounts. It shows that it is not 100% reliable as it will only report any activities by one of the credit bureaus, not both. So, paying hundreds of dollars for this credit monitoring may not be even worth it. In America, you can freeze credit cards which is very effective, and Canadians should be able to have access to that too.

The reason why I chose this video to show everyone how much identity theft can affect so many lives. Like one of the victims in the video was scammed many years ago but is still hunted by it. If anyone ever receives a call or mail or any kind of communication that offers a deal such as this low-interest rate scam, to take a moment and see that if it is too good to be true then it must be a scam, and to not just casually give sensitive information away.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Identity theft: How criminals use a low-interest credit card scam to steal from you (Marketplace)