CANADA AVOID IDENTITY THEFT WITH COMMON-SENSE ACTIONS Avoid identity theft with common-sense actions

Avoid identity theft with common-sense actions

Protect yourself by controlling who has access to vital information

Inez Dyer , CanWest News Service

You open your e-mails and someone is looking for your kind assistance in freeing up millions of dollars in some foreign country. If you "help" them to the tune of a few thousand dollars they will reward you with millions.

The phone rings and "Congratulations Mrs. Smith you have been selected to win."

Scams, scams and more scams.

You can't open your e-mail, or answer the phone these days and someone isn't looking to take you to the cleaners. Whether you realize it or not, your name and vital statistics are on virtually every database in this country and no company can guarantee how safe your information is. I would guess that perhaps no more than 10 per cent of all security breaches involving large corporations ever get reported in the media.

Having come across every scam possible while working at a bank, I'm way past the point of paranoia about how easy it is for ordinary people to fall victim to fraud.

In this new technical age, everywhere you go you leave an electronic fingerprint. While computer technology has quickened, streamlined and given us home access to virtually everything, there are certain precautions you must take or you will become a victim.

1. Keep all your ATM and Interac purchase receipts, compare them with your statement and shred them along with every other piece of paper that bears your name, address, account number and SIN number.

2. Change all your passwords frequently and immediately if you believe a stranger, co-worker, child or even your spouse has obtained them. Just because you have a joint account doesn't mean you have any business knowing your spouse's online or bank codes.

3. Lock up your computer every time you walk away at the office and even at home if you have access to sensitive or personal information or conduct business from home.

4. If you buy a new computer, remove the old hard drive from the discarded one and physically destroy it. Deleted information is never permanently deleted.

5. Don't share songs online and be careful what you download. When you're downloading, you are most vulnerable to hackers and viruses.

6. Check your bank account and credit card transactions frequently. If your ATM or Visa card has been duplicated, it can take only a matter of seconds to clean out your accounts or max out your credit card. I strongly recommend that you only attach ONE bank account to a debit card and keep your withdrawal limit as low as feasibly possible.

7. Don't carry blank cheques in your purse or briefcase and absolutely don't have your cancelled cheques returned in the mail. In addition to having your address and signature, fraudsters are now using the micro-encoded information on the bottom of your cheque to gain electronic access to your bank account.

8. Don't ignore the virus or security updates that pop up when using your computer. Install them immediately. It only takes minutes to keep your computer up to date and virtually virus-free.

9. As a rule, don't open e-mail attachments unless you know who sent them. Most viruses are spread this way and it only takes one to destroy yourcomputer files.

10. Unless you're completely confident with a company's website security, never provide personal information, bank account or credit card numbers. Not only is security an issue, but they may sell their client lists to other companies, without your knowledge.

11. Never let your debit or credit card out of your sight. Knowing how easy it's become to duplicate these cards, I no longer allow waiters to take my credit card at restaurants. Pay on the way out the door!

Financial fraud is out of control. Security can't keep up with the criminals and people add to the problem because they are too trusting and casual in their use of this technology. Stop, look and listen are words I've come to realize I must live by if I want to protect myself, my money and my family.

Inez has 25 years financial experience. If you have questions or comments, she can be reached at personalfortune@shaw.ca