CyberGuide
Identity Theft
FROM: SEP-OCT 2005 ISSUE | BY ROBIN DAY
Identity theft is a multi-million dollar problem in Canada and you don't even have to leave the comforts of your own home to be a victim. Following are a few resources to help you improve your chances of preventing identity theft.
www.safecanada.ca/identitytheft_e.asp
This Government of Canada site is a good starting point when looking into identity theft. It covers all the bases including definitions, tips on avoiding identity theft, and information on what to do if you become a victim.
www.phonebusters.com/english/recognizeit_identitythe.html
The Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre is another good source of information, and provides a list of the most common scams used to defraud unsuspecting consumers.
www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/
Periodically reviewing your own credit report is an effective method of spotting identity theft. Equifax is one of several companies offering this service in Canada.
http://cmcweb.ca
Identity theft is not only a consumer problem, as businesses have an obligation to safeguard their customers' personal information. The Consumer Measures Committee site provides a checklist for businesses wishing to improve their information security practices.
This bit of research has me looking at my bank balance and wondering whether I might have become a victim of an identity thief. Perhaps I should check my credit rating to see how it looks. Better yet, maybe I will buy an expensive new toy and have someone else do the checking. But then again, that could explain what happened to my bank balance...
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Robin Day, MBA, CGA, teaches financial management at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He is also president of Virtual Information Technologies Inc.E-mail rday@virtualit.ca.