5. Protect your identity from being stolen again

Though you can't always prevent , you can do many things to try and prevent it from happening again.

The best way to protect yourself is to make sure that your is as safe as possible. You should be very careful about the information you share online or in person. You should also be careful about how you handle identity documents and financial papers.

Check your credit history

Equifax and TransUnion are the 2 main consumer reporting agencies in Canada. You can ask them for a copy of your credit report and they have to send a free copy. Do this every year and make sure the information in it is correct.

Some consumer reporting agencies and companies offer services to keep your identity safe, for a fee. But, be aware that you may be able to do many of those things yourself at no cost.

Learn to recognize identity theft

Know some of the warning signs that your identity may be stolen. Step 4 in ‘What is identity theft?' lists some of them. A stolen identity can make things very difficult for you. If you think your identity has been stolen, you must take action right away.

The sooner you find out your identity has been stolen or used, the less time the thief has to do damage.

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