15 Identity Theft Tips You Should Be Following

If an unsolicited email asks for personal information, account numbers, passwords or PINs, ignore it. Also, do not click on any link in the email even if it looks legit. Delete it and call your financial institution or credit card company to confirm authenticity. The same goes for phone calls – never give out personal information unless you've initiated the call.

This tip is a bit tougher to implement, given how big a role computers play in our daily lives. But you can and should minimize what you store on your computer – especially a laptop – in case it gets stolen. Put documents like tax returns on a memory stick and store it in a safety deposit box. You should also password protect your computer to keep out prying eyes.

Don't send login names, passwords or your Social Insurance Number in an email. Email is handy, but it isn't very secure. And if a fraudster gains access to your email account, they'll find a treasure trove of personal information. Delete as much email as you can, don't save sensitive information in your account, empty your trash weekly and remember to change your password often. Also, don't use the same password for your email that you use for any other account. If you use the same password, criminals can get access to everything.

One way scammers can confirm stealing your identity is to make small withdrawals from your bank account or charge small items to your credit card. Keep an eye out for strange charges and withdrawals. If you see something abnormal, call your bank right away.

Armed with your Social Insurance Number, criminals can wreak havoc on your accounts. Memorize your SIN and lock the card away. Never give it out unless a government agency asks for it.

It's bad enough if a fraudster gets a hold of one of your passwords – but if you use the same login and password for all your accounts, then you risk giving criminals access to everything. To prevent that from happening, use different and complex passwords for every account. And change them often.

Even though they've expired, old credit and debit cards still contain information that criminals can use to gain access to your accounts. Make sure you cut them up into small pieces and dispose of the pieces over several weeks or in different places.

Smartphones are wonderful things. But they can also create tons of trouble if they're lost or stolen. Don't make it easy for fraudsters to steal your identity if they get their hands on your phone. Never store credit card numbers, banking information or passwords on them. If your phone has an auto-lock feature, turn it on and select a random unlock password (not your banking PIN!). If your phone has it, enable the remote erase feature – that way you can wipe all your data off your phone should you lose it.

Never use a public or shared computer if you're doing online banking or anything involving your personal data. You never know if someone has installed software that can read your keystrokes. Don't sacrifice safety for convenience.

Losing your wallet or purse can be a disaster. But you can lessen the impact by carrying the bare minimum of ID and credit/bank cards with you. That way you don't have to replace everything if you lose your wallet.

Like keeping an eye on your bank and credit card statements, you should also check your credit report for odd activity or new accounts. Contact Equifax Canada at 800-465-7166 or TransUnion Canada at 877-525-3823 to obtain a copy of your report.

Be careful at using point of purchase terminals. Do the swiping yourself. If the cashier has to do it, keep a close eye on your debit or credit card.

When you're using your debit card at a bank machine, remember to cover the keypad with your hand so no one (including a camera) can see your PIN.

Believe it or not, not everyone reports fraud. If you've been a victim of identity theft or any kind of fraud, report it to the police immediately. Also report it to your bank, credit reporting agencies and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.