Think You Might be a Victim?

You know when something doesn’t seem right. If you suspect any improper or illegal activity is taking place, contact the following organizations immediately:

• Local police. Ask them to make a report and ask for a copy so that you can provide it to the organizations that you will have to contact later
• Banks and other financial institutions you deal with
• Major credit reporting agencies. Ask for a copy of your credit report and discuss whether your file should be marked with a fraud alert, which will advise creditors to contact you before opening or changing accounts.
• www.transunion.ca
• www.equifax.ca
• www.creditbureau.ca
• PhoneBusters, a police organization that collects information about identity theft and offers advice to victims. They can be reached at 1-888-495-8501, or www.phonebusters.com
• Reporting Economic Crime Online (RECOL), a partnership involving international, federal and provincial law enforcement agencies: www.recol.ca
• Any government agencies that issued documents stolen or misused as part of the identity fraud

What else to do:

• Keep a detailed log of who you have called and what was said.
• Document any expenses you incur as you clear your name and re-establish your credit.
• Close your bank accounts and open new ones. Insist on password-only access.
• Get new bank machine, credit cards and calling cards with new passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs).
• Get a new version of any compromised identification.
• Tell your telephone, cable and utility companies that someone using your name could try to open new accounts fraudulently.

Identity Theft Warning Signs >

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