Protect Your Identity

Identity Theft can happen to anyone and anywhere. This occurs when an identity thief obtains some pieces of your personal information and disguises themselves as you, in the hope of using for financial gain.

Here are a number of ways you can help protect yourself from identity theft:

Ensure that your signature is placed on the back of your credit and debit cards. This will help to lessen the chances of someone else using your card.
Always take your credit card receipts, and never throw them away in public. This can help you double check your bank and card statements and identify any suspicious activity.
Immediately report your stolen or lost cards to the bank.
If you are not using your cards, please ensure that they are either cancelled by the bank or destroyed. When you destroy the cards, make sure the numbers are no longer visible.
Be careful when giving out your personal information to unsolicited requests via the internet as these can be scams.
Don't have your driver's license number pre-printed on your cheques.
Use your initials (instead of your first name) and last name on your cheques. If someone takes your cheques, they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your full name, but your bank will know.
Change your passwords and PIN numbers regularly. Don't use typical codes such as birthdays, or the name of your spouse, or child. Try to memorize passwords and PIN numbers and not have them written down on a piece of paper. If you do ensure that this information is in a safe place.
Carefully review credit card statements, phone, and utility bills. Call if a charge or phone call seems suspicious.
Don't give personal information over the phone unless absolutely necessary, and don't ever give it unless you initiated the phone call. If someone calls who says they are calling from your bank or credit company, ask for a number to call them back and then make sure it's really an official number.
If you find your personal information posted somewhere on the Internet, demand that it be removed.
Only shop on Web sites that offer a privacy policy. Know how your personal information will be handled. Print out privacy policies, warranties, price guarantees and other important information.

IDENTITY THEFT MENU

Protect Your Identity