What is Identity theft?
Identity theft refers to the unauthorized collection and use of an individual’s personal identification to commit fraud or other criminal activity for financial gain. A fraudster steals your credit card and uses it around the world, steals your bank card and pin and clean out your bank account, steals your identity and borrows money in your name, and even steals your home and sell it to an innocent purchaser. There is easy money to be made by the criminal element and now organized crime is becoming involved and therefore we can expect ID theft and fraud to continue to escalate.
The low-tech approach to stealing your identity is to simply take your wallet or purse. Open your wallet now and see if you have your social insurance card or birth certificate on you. The social insurance card is a key piece of ID but will rarely be asked to produce your SIN card. You should put both in a safety deposit box. It’s not just money you may lose when your ID has been stolen, your life gets high jacked.
 Identity Theft Coverage now available when you purchase a title insurance policy*
With identity theft and real estate title fraud at an all-time high, peace-of-mind protection against new risks for you have never been more critical. Identity theft coverage is available to you for a small, one-time fee in conjunction with the purchase of a title insurance policy.
The policy contains unique coverage in the unfortunate event of identity theft, ensuring that you can recover losses and return your life to normal.
*Identity theft coverage is available when you purchase title insurance for an additional, one-time nominal fee.
For more information on how to protect yourself, Click here.
Tips to Protecting Your Identity:
| 1 |
Before you reveal any personally indentifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared. |
| 2 |
Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. |
| 3 |
Guard your mail. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery. Ensure mail is forwarded or re-routed if you move or change your mailing address. |
| 4 |
Utilize passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, birth date, the last four digits of your social insurance number, or your phone number. |
| 5 |
Minimize the identification information and number of cards you carry with you. |
| 6 |
Do not give out personal information, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you’re dealing with. |
| 7 |
Keep items with personal information in a safe place. An identity thief will pick through your garbage or recycling bins. Be sure to tear or shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, and credit offers you get in the mail. |
| 8 |
Give your social insurance number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible. |
| 9 |
Don’t carry your social insurance card; leave it in a secure place. |
Source: www.Phonebusters.com |
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