| Calgary Worship Centre
How can someone steal your identity? Identity theft occurs
when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social
Security number, credit card number or other identifying information,
without your permission to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft is a serious crime. People whose identities have
been stolen can spend months or years - and their hard-earned money
- cleaning up the mess thieves have made of their good name and
credit record. In the meantime, victims may lose job opportunities,
be refused loans, education, housing or cars, or even get arrested
for crimes they didn't commit.
Identity theft is the new crime that has included fraudulent emails,
phone calls, camera phones (taking pictures of your credit cards).
One report suggests that hundreds of American and Canadian consumers
are unaware that their credit cards can be bought in Russia for
fifty dollars apiece. Many of these have ten thousand dollar limits
and are used to purchase a variety of goods.
Another method used, although these sites often last only a few
hours, includes false online stores. After you key in your credit
information, no goods are ever sent to you and you are now a victim
of this crime.
Some suggestions to avoid becoming a victim include:
1. Never use your credit card for online purchases.
2. Never, ever provide anyone your personal information, such as
SSN (SIN in Canada), other than a bank or loan officer and THEN
ONLY IN PERSON AT THE INSTITUTION'S OFFICES.
IF you think you are a victim of I.D. Theft, here are some steps
to start with.
1. Contact you bank, credit card companies and the credit bureaus
(there are three in the USA, info may be found here: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/recovering_idt.html#9
2. Close all the accounts that have been tampered with. Credit
card companies will provide you with new cards and new account numbers.
3. File a police report as soon as possible.
4. In the USA, contact the Federal Trade Commission (they keep
records of all ID Thefts). In Canada, contact your provincial privacy
commissioner.
We hope this helps. Please play safe.
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