Call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 if your SIN card has been lost or stolen, or you believe someone is using it. Call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. The information you give will help law enforcement agencies in possible investigations.
Is identity theft common in Canada?
In 2021, there were 18.78 incidents of identity theft per 100,000 residents in Canada.
Rate of identity thefts in Canada from 2010 to 2021 (per 100,000 residents)
| Characteristic | Identity thefts per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 12.58 |
| 2018 | 10.29 |
| 2017 | 9.02 |
| 2016 | 8.68 |
What if someone steals your identity Canada?
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.
Is identity theft a crime in Canada?
402.2 (1) Every person commits an offence who obtains or possesses another person’s identity information with intent to use it to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence.
What can you do if someone is still using your identity?
Report Identity Theft. Report identity (ID) theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will collect the details of your situation.
What are the first signs of identity theft?
9 Signs of Identity Theft
- Unexplained charges or withdrawals.
- Medical bills for doctors you haven’t visited.
- New credit cards you didn’t apply for.
- Errors on your credit report.
- Collection notices or calls for unknown debt.
- Your credit card or application for credit is denied.
- Missing mail or email.
How do I prove someone stole my identity?
Use the ID Theft Affidavit
Creditors may ask you to fill out fraud affidavits. The Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Affidavit is accepted by the credit bureaus and by most major creditors. Send copies of the completed form to creditors where the thief opened accounts in your name.
What are 2 things you should do if your identity is stolen?
Explain that someone stole your identity and ask them to close or freeze the compromised account. Contact any of the three credit reporting agencies and ask that a free fraud alert be placed on your credit report. Also ask for a free credit report.
What are the four things you need to do if your identity is stolen?
File a report with the Federal Trade Commission. Contact your local police department. Place a fraud alert on your credit reports. Freeze your credit.
Is identity theft taken seriously?
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name.
How much information do you need for identity theft?
What they want are account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, and other confidential information that they can use to loot your checking account or run up bills on your credit cards. Identity thieves can take out loans or obtain credit cards and even driver’s licenses in your name.
How can I protect my identity in Canada?
How Can I Help Protect Myself from Identity Theft?
- Be careful what you share on social networks.
- Don’t give out personal information through the mail, by phone or online unless you have initiated the contact.
- Check your credit reports regularly to help detect suspicious activity.
Do local police handle identity theft?
If you are an ID theft victim, report it to your local law enforcement.
Can you freeze your identity?
A “security freeze” blocks access to your credit unless you have given your permission. This can prevent an identity thief from opening a new account or getting credit in your name.
Can you wipe your identity?
The quick answer is that no, you can’t completely erase your identity in this day and age — unless the government does it for you. Legally changing your name isn’t too difficult. Legally changing your Social Security number (SSN) is possible as well, but only under certain circumstances.
How do you know if someone is messing with your identity?
You should review your bank account statements regularly; if you see unknown purchases, that could be a sign that your identity has been stolen. Check credit reports. Similarly, monitor your credit reports from all three credit-reporting bureaus for any unknown accounts or inaccurate information.
What are 3 ways someone can steal your identity?
Common Tactics Thieves Use To Steal Your Identity
- Phishing and SMiShing. Phishing involves sending you a fraudulent email that looks to be authentic, say an email from your bank asking you to verify your account information.
- Dumpster Diving.
- Wireless Hacking.
- Fake Lottery Winnings, Jobs, Etc.
- ATM and Payment Machines.
What are the 3 most common causes of identity theft?
Motivations for Identity Theft
- Financial Gain. The most common reason why people commit identity theft and other white-collar crimes is for financial benefit.
- Revenge. Another goal someone might have when committing identity theft is revenge.
- To Hide Another Crime.
What are the top 10 ways that thieves steal your identity?
Learn 11 of the most common ways of identity theft can happen.
- Phishing. Scammers often use phishing emails to trick victims into providing personal or financial information.
- Smishing.
- Vishing.
- Fake Websites.
- Impersonation Scams or Confidence Fraud.
- Data Breaches.
- Skimming.
- Public Wi-Fi and USB Charging Stations.
Do identity thieves get caught?
5. Are identity thieves ever caught? Identity theft statistics for 2020 are not available yet; however, 2006 research showed that federal authorities arrest only 0.14% of the criminals (one person in 700 identity theft suspects).
What is the most important way to fight identity theft?
One of the best ways to protect against identity theft is to monitor your credit history. You can get one free credit report every year from each of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Request all three reports at once, or be your own no-cost credit-monitoring service.