Identity Theft: Lauren Jenkins by Lauren Jenkins https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft Identity Theft en-us 2019-10-21 22:49:40 UTC 2024-09-05 17:11:22 UTC hello@padlet.com Welcome to my Padlet! ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415690437 Here, you will find information and helpful resources on identity theft and identity fraud. Videos, websites and informative infographics will teach you the signs and symptoms of identity theft, how to prevent it, what to do should you suspect it's happened to you, hear real-life stories of Canadians who have fallen victim to identity fraud, and more! Click along to learn and be informed on this important issue that is, unfortunately, happening more and more often.]]> 2019-11-23 18:12:55 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415690437 AVOIDING AND RECOVERING FROM IDENTITY THEFT ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415690696 This section of the Ontario website is helpful for information on avoiding and recovering from identity theft. It defines the issue, tells us how identities are stolen, signs of identity theft, and how to protect your identity.
In the case of a suspected identity theft, this site tells us we should:
"- keep a log of all your phone calls (write down the name of anyone you talked to, what he or she told you and the date your conversation occurred)
- follow up in writing with contacts you’ve made on the telephone or in person to make sure you have a record of all agreements
- make copies and keep all originals of supporting documentation, like police reports and letters to and from companies
- keep old files even if you believe the case has been resolved, in case errors reappear on your credit reports or if old issues arise." 
I thought that this website was important to include because it offers practical advice on how to move forward if we think there is a chance that our identity has been stolen. They also recommend to put an alert on your credit report.

]]> 2019-11-23 18:15:00 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415690696 VIDEO: Synthetic Identity ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415692145 Identity theft can start with just your name.
In this interview on CBC News, Claudiu Popa discusses identity theft and synthetic identity. He clarifies just how easy it is for identity thieves to steal personal information and/or create false information. Popa explains the concept of synthetic identity, which happens when someone uses your first and last name as a starting point to create a false identity. They might create certificates, open accounts, or borrow money in your name without you knowing. In the same way, identity thieves might also use a fake name but accompany it with a real address, taken from a phone book or map, to make the fraud more believable. 
Popa continues on to explain how this is still happening today; banks are often concerned about the damage that identity theft/fraud might have on their reputation, so this issue is often not publicized. It happens more often than we might think! 
I chose to include this video because Popa explains identity theft and synthetic identity very clearly and in a relatable way. Having concepts explained in an interview format also offers a different perspective to the conversation, which I see as valuable.
]]> 2019-11-23 18:26:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415692145 THE FACTS ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415743901 This website has so many important facts, statistics, and information on this topic. We can especially trust this source because it is on the Canadian government's website. It also offers helpful Canadian  resources to report identity theft/fraud. We can learn what information identity thieves are looking for, how your information might be used by them, and how to prevent it from happening to begin with. This website is a great resource that has it all! ]]> 2019-11-24 01:35:01 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/415743901 SYNTHETIC IDENTITY ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416489079 This photo gives us a visual of the alarming reality that identity theft is, and the rate at which it is growing. Can you believe an average synthetic ID loss is about $6000?]]> 2019-11-26 03:28:16 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416489079 ONLINE PRIVACY ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416489957 We are a generation who are almost all actively contributing to social media; therefore, it is hard to avoid sharing personal information with these sites when creating our profiles, etc. This website is a helpful resource from the Government of Canada website for safely using social media while preventing identity theft. It shares important tips and information, such as the types of scams that are commonly found on social media:
- Clickjacking (using catchy headlines) 
- Fake polls
- Phishing (creates fake pages for you to sign into with your information)
- Phony messages (“Urgent!”)
- Requests to wire money
- Fake friend requests
- Fake pages (set up for phishing)
- Fake apps
- Popular scams (fake software updates, lottery scams, for example)
]]> 2019-11-26 03:33:53 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416489957 VIDEO: Tips for Protection ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416490188 Top 12 tips to protect your identity from identity theft, according to MetCredit Canada:
  1. Use biometric protected wallets like Apple Pay.
  2. Remove any ID from your wallet that you don’t regularly need.
  3. Swipe/tap your own debit/credit cards - don’t lose sight of them.
  4. Don’t open suspect emails, never click on links within them.
  5. Never give out your date of birth, bank account number, or personal information to someone you don’t know or isn’t authenticated.
  6. Always question the need for photocopying your license and offer less invasive options.
  7. Shred all personal information before discarding.
  8. Update your info with your bank.
  9. Routinely check credit reports and bank statements.
  10. Get proactive credit alerts.
  11. Security-Check websites before you provide personal information. Look for "https://" and/or the padlock icon next to the URL - this indicates that the information is encrypted in transit.
  12. Protect pins and passwords.
I chose this video because the breakdown of 12 steps to protecting your identity makes this issue feel more manageable. Identity theft is a scary reality, but it is possible to take proactive steps towards your privacy and protection! I personally found tip #11 especially interesting and helpful. I did not know that the "s" in "https" stands for secure. This is helpful to internet users for their own peace of mind that they are using a secure website.
]]> 2019-11-26 03:35:19 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416490188 VIDEO: Types of Identity Theft ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416493431 5 Types of Identity Theft:

1. Criminal Identity Theft
A criminal steals the identity of someone else to hide from their criminal punishments and/or charges.

2. Financial Identity Theft
Stealing someone’s identity for financial gain

3. Identity Cloning
Stealing another’s identity to keep their own secret.

4. Medical Identity Theft
Stealing someone else’s identity while seeking medical care

5. Child Identity Theft
Stealing the identity of a child

In a similar way to the "Tips for Protection" video, this video about the types of identity theft is especially helpful because of its format. The 5 types are clear, concise, and make sense. I personally found this video intriguing because I did not realize there were so many types of identity theft. As I have mentioned before, this is a scary reality, but it is important to be aware of the different types of identity theft because it really could happen to anyone.
]]> 2019-11-26 03:52:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416493431 Identity Theft Infographic ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416494877 I felt it was important to include this infographic because it talks about child identity theft, which, after studying identity theft more closely, I feel is not discussed enough in this conversation. I was shocked to learn that children's information is stolen more than adults' information; this, however, does make sense when you take into account the fact that adults are typically much more aware of this issue than children are when browsing the internet, etc. This is a wake-up call to parents: it is important to be aware of where your children are sharing their personal information!]]> 2019-11-26 03:59:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416494877 VIDEO: $100K Title Fraud ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416496124 In this CTV News story, we hear the story of an Ontario couple who's identities have been stolen. The thieves took out a $100,000 mortgage on their house, and have to pay back the money taken by the thieves, move out of their house, and are fighting to get back their belongings. This video was important to include because it shows the reality of what falling victim to identity theft/fraud can do to you, your family, and your finances. 
In this video, we also learn about title insurance. 
Title insurance covers:
- Title fraud
- Unknown title defects
- Existing liens against property
- Encroachment issues
- Errors in surveys
It often costs $300-$500 to purchase title insurance. It is not mandatory, but is often included in the costs of closing a sale of a property, and is as valid for as long as you own the property.
]]> 2019-11-26 04:06:32 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416496124 VIDEO: Identity Theft via Mail ljenkins1998 https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416498105 In this CTV News story, Michael Wood, of Ottawa, tells his story of identity fraud. Essentially, someone stole his personal information by redirecting his mail, through Canada Post, to another address and opened 7 credit cards in his name. Eric Longley, the CTV reporter in this video, tells us that tax season is a popular time of year for identity theft, as lots of mail includes people's personal and sensitive information, and they take advantage of this.
I wanted to include this video because it shows just another practical and realistic way that thieves can steal our personal information for their financial gain. I felt it was important to include two of these examples because it happens so much more than we might think!]]> 2019-11-26 04:17:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ljenkins1998/identitytheft/wish/416498105