What to Do if You are a Victim of Identity Theft in Canada

Oct 1, 2010
Toby Welch

Bank Cards Can be Used By Identity Thieves - Logan Antill

You just discovered you are the victim of an identity thief - what do you do? Follow these steps in your quest to reclaim your identity.

It's more than a nuisance but less than a nightmare - you discover someone has stolen your identity and used it to take out a credit card in your name or to get a house mortgage. What do you need to do? The first step is to get the word out.

If You are a Victim of an Identity Thief, Immediately Notify

Your local police department
PhoneBusters, a national Canadian anti-fraud call centre jointly operated by the Ontario Provincial Police and the R.C.M.P. It is also called the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Your bank(s)
Your creditors
Equifax and TransUnion, the two national credit agencies in Canada. Ask them to put a “Fraud Alert” in your file.
Human Resources Development Canada, if there is a chance your Social Insurance Number has been affected
Any other government agencies that issued you identification

As you contact agencies, keep a record of everything you are doing. Get a copy of the police report as it will be a huge help in proving the theft to the other organizations you contact. You may need new banks accounts and credit cards. Make sure you close out or cancel the old ones. Let your utility companies know you have been a victim of identity theft so they do not issue new accounts in your name. Contact Canada Post if your mail is being diverted.

As tempting as it may be, avoid using a credit repair company. There is nothing they can do that you can't do yourself and they usually want to re-establish your credit under another identity; doing that is fraudulent.

Identity Theft Statement

To help you do all of this, download a copy of the Identity Theft Statement. The Statement is a questionnaire you can use to notify everyone involved; it simplifies the process of reporting identity theft for the victims. Make as many copies as you need to notify all companies. “The Identity Theft Statement is the kind of help that victims of identity theft need to help them correct their financial records and prevent further damage to their reputation or credit,” said Joan Huzar, President of the Consumers Council of Canada. According to Maura Drew-Lytle, Senior Manager of Media Relations for the Canadian Bankers Association, “All banks in Canada accept the Identity Theft Statement.”