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About our presenter…

Daniel Chometa is the Community Outreach Manager for Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada. Dan’s work is dedicated to generating awareness of personal finance issues and solutions. He has spearheaded financial literacy initiatives with the United Way of Greater Toronto and the Toronto Adult Student Association. Dan is a graduate of Mount Allison University.

Identity Theft and FraudIdentity Theft and Fraud

Presented By: Daniel Chometa Presented By: Daniel Chometa

Consolidated Credit Counseling Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of CanadaServices of Canada

What is Identity Theft? What is Identity Theft?

The theft, misrepresentation or hijacking of The theft, misrepresentation or hijacking of another person or business’ Identity another person or business’ Identity

It is a growing problem in Canada It is a growing problem in Canada FraudFraud Provides an effective means to commit other Provides an effective means to commit other

crimes using your name.crimes using your name.

Two Main Types of Identity TheftTwo Main Types of Identity Theft

Account TakeoversAccount Takeovers

Card SkimmingCard Skimming Non-ReceiptsNon-Receipts Card ReplacementsCard Replacements Unauthorized UseUnauthorized Use PhishingPhishing

Application FraudApplication Fraud

LoansLoans Bank AccountsBank Accounts Credit CardsCredit Cards MortgagesMortgages Cell PhonesCell Phones

The FactsThe Facts

In 2002 The Phone Busters National Call In 2002 The Phone Busters National Call Centre received 7629 identity theft Centre received 7629 identity theft complaints by Canadians. Total Loss = $8.5 complaints by Canadians. Total Loss = $8.5 MillionMillion

In the First Quarter of 2003, there were In the First Quarter of 2003, there were 2,250 complaints. Total Loss = $5.3 Million2,250 complaints. Total Loss = $5.3 Million

Equifax and Trans Union receive 1400 – Equifax and Trans Union receive 1400 – 1800 identity theft calls per month.1800 identity theft calls per month.

How Does It Happen? How Does It Happen?

Fraudsters are Fraudsters are innovativeinnovative

Happens though Happens though computer use, email, computer use, email, snail mail, transactions snail mail, transactions over the phone, even over the phone, even material taken from material taken from your trash!your trash!

Consumer is not aware Consumer is not aware of potential fraudof potential fraud

What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Protect yourselfProtect yourself Minimize the chances of having your identity Minimize the chances of having your identity

stolenstolen Be Aware of what is happening Be Aware of what is happening Be A smart consumerBe A smart consumer Stay one step ahead and protect yourselfStay one step ahead and protect yourself

The Less Information that’s out there The Less Information that’s out there the better!the better!

Carry only the cards you Carry only the cards you needneed in your wallet. Leave extra in your wallet. Leave extra credit cards, social insurance cards locked up at home.credit cards, social insurance cards locked up at home.

Make a copy of all of your cards and lock the copy up in Make a copy of all of your cards and lock the copy up in your house.your house.

Don’t let a store clerk write down your credit card #Don’t let a store clerk write down your credit card # Don’t print your SIN or Drivers License # on your chequesDon’t print your SIN or Drivers License # on your cheques When asked for your SIN always ask if you can provide When asked for your SIN always ask if you can provide

another numberanother number Don’t Use ABM tellers from financial institutions you don’t Don’t Use ABM tellers from financial institutions you don’t

recognize. recognize.

Protect yourself at workProtect yourself at work

Keep your purse/wallet locked up at the office at all times.Keep your purse/wallet locked up at the office at all times. Workplace theft is more common than most people realizeWorkplace theft is more common than most people realize Ask your employer for a safe place to lock up your things if Ask your employer for a safe place to lock up your things if

one is not provided for you.one is not provided for you. Ask your employer about security procedures for personal Ask your employer about security procedures for personal

filesfiles DO NOT log onto personal financial websites using DO NOT log onto personal financial websites using

company computers.company computers. DO NOT set passwords to auto remember.DO NOT set passwords to auto remember. And do not store personal information in your desk or on And do not store personal information in your desk or on

your office computer at work.your office computer at work.

Protect yourself at homeProtect yourself at home

Protect your mail, get a locked mail boxProtect your mail, get a locked mail box Never have new cheques sent to your home Never have new cheques sent to your home

in the mail. Pick them up from the bankin the mail. Pick them up from the bank Buy a shredder to shred personal Buy a shredder to shred personal

documentsdocuments Check your credit report at least once a yearCheck your credit report at least once a year Keep your personal information in a locked Keep your personal information in a locked

room or a filing cabinet. room or a filing cabinet.

Protect Yourself OnlineProtect Yourself Online

Use A Firewall – this will prevent Phishing Use A Firewall – this will prevent Phishing attempts attempts

Choose good passwords – Use an alpha numeric Choose good passwords – Use an alpha numeric password and change them frequentlypassword and change them frequently

Choose a good username – do not use your email Choose a good username – do not use your email address as a username (Hannah1199) address as a username (Hannah1199)

Beware of Phishing – Pay Pal/Best Buy/EBay/RBC Beware of Phishing – Pay Pal/Best Buy/EBay/RBC ectect

What does Phishing Look Like?What does Phishing Look Like?

Signs that you may be a VictimSigns that you may be a Victim

A bank or cell phone company contacts you about suspicious transactions

You start receiving suspicious calls for more information about yourself

A collection agency calls you about an unknown debt Unknown items appear on one of your statements

Source: Consumer Measures Committee

You are denied credit for unknown reasons

Bills and statements are not arriving in the mail

Your credit report has unknown or inaccurate entries

Bills or statements arrive for unknown accounts

Source: Consumer Measures Committee

Current ThreatsCurrent Threats

The Prize PitchThe Prize Pitch: : – Remember that you should never have to buy Remember that you should never have to buy

anything to win a prize in a contestanything to win a prize in a contest– Be careful of the sweepstakes contest, you will Be careful of the sweepstakes contest, you will

be contacted by a judge border services person be contacted by a judge border services person or a lawyer. They will tell you that the money or a lawyer. They will tell you that the money must be sent up front for tax reasons.must be sent up front for tax reasons.

Current ThreatsCurrent Threats

Emergency or Grandparent ScamEmergency or Grandparent Scam– Happens over the phoneHappens over the phone– May use accident or travel as an excuseMay use accident or travel as an excuse– 2 methods used2 methods used

1) typical: 1) typical: Do you know who this is? Do you know who this is? don’t tell anyone!don’t tell anyone!

2) email 2) email

a hijacked account is used to ask friends or family to a hijacked account is used to ask friends or family to send money. send money.

The results of the scamThe results of the scam

By the end of October 2009: By the end of October 2009: – Grandparent scam had 278 failed attemptsGrandparent scam had 278 failed attempts– Had 88 Successful attempts total loss reported Had 88 Successful attempts total loss reported

= $317,732.63 Average of $3,610 per victim.= $317,732.63 Average of $3,610 per victim.

In 2008 total loss on the same scam was In 2008 total loss on the same scam was $157,452$157,452

December 2009 OPP warns of the scam December 2009 OPP warns of the scam

What do you do if you are a Victim?What do you do if you are a Victim?

Contact policeContact police – file a police report – file a police report Notify the Credit BureausNotify the Credit Bureaus – Equifax, Trans Union – Equifax, Trans Union Contact your banking institutionContact your banking institution Contact Phone BustersContact Phone Busters – 1.888.495.8501 or on the web – 1.888.495.8501 or on the web

at www.phonebusters.comat www.phonebusters.com Investigate new accountsInvestigate new accounts – review your credit report – review your credit report Check your Address – check with Canada Post to see if Check your Address – check with Canada Post to see if

there was a change of address reported. Notify them that there was a change of address reported. Notify them that you are a victimyou are a victim

Check your passportCheck your passport – check with passport Canada to be – check with passport Canada to be sure no one has applied for a new passport under your sure no one has applied for a new passport under your name. you can visit their website at www.ppt.gc.ca or call name. you can visit their website at www.ppt.gc.ca or call 1.888.567.68681.888.567.6868

2010, Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton) Inc.

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