4. Find out who pays for what the identity thief did
Question & Answer
What can I do if identity theft happens to me?An identity thief can use your in many different ways. They can apply for credit cards, bank loans, mortgages and other kinds of . You should find out whether you have any responsibility for these .
Credit cards
Most credit card companies expect you to monitor the use of your credit card. If you do not report any loss of the card or possible , you may have to pay the full amount charged to your card.
Bank accounts
Even if the identity thief cannot be found, you may have some protection against money taken illegally from your bank accounts. But your bank may want to be sure that you're actually a victim and not working with the thief. You can show them that you are serious about stopping the thieves by reporting your identity theft to the police and by filling out an Ontario Identity Theft Statement as soon as possible.
New accounts
If the thief used your name to open a new credit card account, you may have to prove that it was not you.
If an identity thief opened any new account in your name, it will likely be on your credit report. You might learn about it when you get a note from a saying that you owe them money.
It can be hard to prove that an account does not belong to you. The or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can help you understand what you need to do to prove that the account is not yours. They may ask you to fill out an Identity Theft Statement or report the theft to the police.
It may take time to prove the accounts are not yours. A credit card company or bank may freeze your accounts until you prove the accounts are not yours. A freeze means that no one can use the account until it is unfrozen, including you.
Title fraud
If you are a victim of title , you may be able to get some money for your losses. You have to put in a claim through the government's Land Titles Assurance Fund (LTAF).
