3. Ask a consumer reporting agency to issue a fraud alert

Equifax and TransUnion are the 2 main consumer reporting agencies in Canada. You should contact both agencies and ask them to issue a fraud alert for you. You must contact each agency separately.

When a consumer reporting agency issues a fraud alert, anyone who checks your credit report will see that your identity might have been stolen. This means your creditors can then take steps to check your identity when someone tries to use your identity or accounts.A fraud alert stays on your credit file for 6 years. You do not have to pay to add a fraud alert.

To place a fraud alert with Equifax, you can call them toll-free at 1-800-465-7166. After you select your language, say “lost ID” or press 2. Equifax will ask for your SIN and date of birth.

For TransUnion, you can:

• call them toll-free at: 1-800-663-9980,
• fill out their online request form, or
• fill out an electronic copy, print it off, and mail it to:

TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department

3115 Harvester Road, Suite 201

Burlington, ON L7N 3N8

Get your credit report

You should also ask Equifax or TransUnion to send you a copy of your credit report. They must mail you a free copy of your report once per year if you ask them to. You can also get your report online, but you might have to pay for that.

Contact both agencies to find out what information they have on you in their records. Sometimes they might have different information.

Review your credit reports to see if the identity thief used your name to open any accounts or borrow any money.

If you see a new account that you did not open, tell the consumer reporting agency right away. They have to try to fix the mistake and send updated copies of the report to anyone who ordered them within the last 6 months.