Tips to Protect your Identity

IDENTITY FRAUD

- Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared.

- Pay attention to your billing cycles.  Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.

- 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.

- Utilize passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts.  Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SIN or your phone number.

- Minimize the identification information and number of cards you carry.

- Sign all credit cards when you receive them.

- Never loan your credit cards to anyone. 

- Cancel credit cards you do not use and keep a list of the ones you use regularly.

- Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards and any discrepancies in your monthly statements.

- Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you're dealing with.

- 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.

- Give your SIN only when absolutely necessary.  Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.

- Don't carry your SIN card;  leave it in a secure place.

- Avoid mail or telephone solicitations disguised as promotions or surveys offering instant prizes or awards designed for the purpose of obtaining your personal details including credit card numbers.

Source: 

Phonebusters.ca

(The Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre)

and

Royal Canadian Mounted Police