What can I do if identity theft happens to me?
Identity theft happens when someone takes and uses your without your permission.
Personal information can include your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- social insurance number
- bank accounts
- card numbers
If you think your identity has been stolen, you should act quickly to protect yourself.
Identity theft can make it very hard for you to get a bank loan, credit card, or mortgage. It can even be hard to rent an apartment. It can be very difficult to improve your after your identity has been stolen.
If your identity is stolen, you might also have to:
- fix mistakes on your
- pay for things you did not buy
- close accounts that were opened in your name
First, you should report the theft right away to the police. Then, if you need to report the theft to your bank and credit card companies, you can give them a copy of your police report.
You should contact Service Ontario if you have lost a provincial government-issued identity card, such as your driver's licence or health card, or you think someone has stolen it. Service Ontario can replace the document for you.
You should make a report on the Passport Canada website if you have lost your passport, or it is stolen.
You should report to Service Canada if you have lost your social insurance number (SIN) or if you think someone is using it. You should tell the consumer reporting agencies Equifax and Transunion to issue a fraud alert. You do not have to pay for the fraud alert. You need to contact each agency separately to place a fraud alert on both your files.
When a makes a fraud alert, anyone who checks your credit report will see that your identity might have been stolen. Your creditors can then take steps to check your identity when someone tries to use your identity or accounts.
You should tell the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) about the theft. The CAFC collects information about and shares it with local police services to help stop thieves. The CAFC can also tell you what to do next and help you protect yourself from future theft.
If you are not sure that your identity has been stolen, read about some of the warning signs of identity theft. Even if your identity has not been stolen, you should always try to protect your personal information.