Union Savings - Helping Union Members in So Many Ways

Keep Your Personal Information from Identity Thieves

The following advice on how to minimize the risk of becoming a victim or identity theft was provided by First Affinity Mortgage Corporation.

• Do not give out personal information on the phone, through mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know with whom you're dealing.
• Only use secured web sites if purchasing via credit card.
• 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.
• Minimize the identification information and number of cards you carry.
• 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 and credit offers you get in the mail.
• Give your Social Insurance Number only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identification when possible.
• Don't carry your SIN card with you - leave it in a secure place.
• Check your credit report regularly to ensure there are no discrepancies.

Reviewing your credit report can help you find out if someone has opened unauthorized financial accounts in your name. There are three credit reporting agencies in Canada: Equifax Canada, Northern Credit Bureaus Inc. and TransUnion Canada. You can request free copies of your credit report from credit reporting agencies by mail. Online versions of reports are also available for a small fee.

If you think for any reason that you could be the victim of identity theft, call Equifax Canada immediately. Have them place a fraud alert on your name and Social Insurance Number. If any applications for credit are made in your name and your credit rating is checked, you will be contacted by phone to authorize the new credit.The toll-free phone number for Equifax is 1-800-465-7166. Additional information and options for contacting them can be found on the Equifax Canada web site.