Uh-oh, I lost my SIN...
Uh-oh, I lost my SIN...
March 21, 2012
Falling victim to identity theft can happen to anyone. March is international Fraud Awareness Month, so I’d like to share a few tips on what to do if you think your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is at risk. I’ve already provided some insight on how to protect your SIN and whom you should and shouldn’t provide your number to, but here’s a to-do list if you’re worried that someone may be using your SIN for criminal activity.
- If you’ve discovered some criminal activity tied to the use of your SIN, contact your local police to file a report. You should consider contacting the Canadian Anti-fraud Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501 for advice and assistance about identity theft.
- If you have already established a credit rating, you should contact Equifax and TransUnion, Canada's two national credit bureaus, to request a free copy of your credit report. Review your credit rating for any suspicious activity and then consider whether or not to ask that your credit file be flagged to indicate that your personal information could be at risk and may be vulnerable to fraud.
- Visit the Service Canada Web site or call 1-800-O-Canada to figure out what measures and precautions you should take regarding your SIN.
- Lastly, you should also inform your bank and any other creditors by phone and in writing to reduce your financial risk.
I hope you never have to use this to-do list, but it’s better to be aware of this information, and to know where and how you can get help if your SIN has been compromised. For more information on how to get a SIN and tips to protect it, visit the Service Canada Web site.
Cheers,
Comments
Catherine says,
March 26, 2012
"Thanks Derek!"