5. Protect your identity from being stolen again

You can't always prevent identity theft. But there are things you can do to try and stop it from happening again.

To protect yourself, make sure that your personal information is as safe as possible. Always be very careful about the information you share online or in person. You should always keep identity documents and financial papers in a safe place.

Check your credit history

The two consumer reporting agencies in Canada are Equifax and TransUnion. If you ask them to see your credit report, they have to send you a free copy. It's a good idea to ask for a copy every year to make sure the information in your credit report is correct.

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

Learn to recognize identity theft

Here are some warning signs that your identity may have been stolen:

• You get credit card statements or bills in your name that are not yours.
• You get phone calls or letters from collection agencies or creditors for accounts that you don't have or for things you didn't buy.
• Your bank or other financial statements show withdrawals, transactions, or transfers that you didn't make.
• Creditors call to tell you that you have been approved for or denied credit that you did not apply for.
• Your credit applications are denied for unexpected reasons.
• Your credit report shows a debt that you do not recognize.
• You do not get bills or credit card statements in the mail, or you notice that you are not getting all the mail you usually get.

A stolen identity can make things very hard for you. If you think your identity has been stolen, you must take action right away.

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