Avoiding Identity Theft

1. Next time you order cheques, have only your initials (instead of your first name) and surname put on them. If someone takes your cheque book, they will not know if you sign your cheques with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your cheques. 

2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED". 

3. When you are writing cheques to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your cheque as it passes through all the cheque processing channels won't have access to it. 

4. Place your work phone number on your cheques instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box, use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your Centre link number printed on your cheques. You can add it if it is necessary, but if you have it printed, anyone can get it. 

5. Run the contents of your wallet through a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each licence, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place (not your wallet). I also carry a photocopy of my passport when travelling either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards. 

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know: 

1. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.  

2. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). 

3. But here's what is perhaps most important of all:

Call the three national credit reporting organisations immediately to place a fraud alert on your Tax File Number your passport number and driver’s licence number.

Manage your credit file through Veda Advantage. For a low annual fee they keep you advised the instant an inquiry for credit has been made in your name. You are then able to contact the institution and advise of the fraudulent transaction.

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