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NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH PROGRAM
The Neighbourhood Watch
program is active in your community. Current objectives of the
program include:
- To provide a communication network between the RCMP
and the residents of our community;
- To inform the residents of issues and events
affecting their safety and peace of mind;
- To gather and provide information on criminal and
suspicious activity to the RCMP;
- To distribute blue reflective civic number signs to
help EMS personnel find your home.
IDENTITY
THEFT
What is
it? Identity theft has
become an increasingly popular crime in Canada as a result of recent
advances in technology. Identity theft involves stealing or
hijacking the identity of another person and provides an effective
means to commit other crimes. Vital information such as name,
address, date of birth, social insurance number, and mother’s maiden
name need to be acquired in order to complete the impersonation.
The identity thief can take over the victim’s financial accounts, open
new bank accounts, transfer bank balances, apply for loans, credit
cards and other services, purchase vehicles, take luxury vacations, and
so on.
Are you
a Victim? The signs can
be many, but typical indicators that your identity is being used
include:
- A creditor informs you that an application for credit
was received with your name and address, which you did not apply for.
- Telephone calls or letters state that you have been
approved or denied by a creditor that you never applied to.
- You receive credit card statements or other bills in
your name, which you did not apply for.
- You no longer receive credit card statements or you
notice that not all of your mail is delivered.
- A collection agency informs you they are collecting
for a defaulted account established with your identity and you never
opened the account.
What
should you do if you believe you are a victim? If you suspect that your personal information
has been hijacked and misappropriated to commit fraud or theft, take
action immediately and keep a record of your conversations and
correspondence. The following basic actions are appropriate in
almost every case:
- Start a log of dates, person(s) that you spoke with
and exactly what they said.
- Contact the fraud department of creditors for any
accounts that have been opened or tampered with fraudulently.
This may include credit card companies, phone companies, banks and
other lenders.
- File a report with your local police or the police in
the community where the identity theft took place.
Remember:
There is no
reason to be paranoid; but there is reason to be careful. If
someone wants desperately to target you, they can probably get a lot of
information about you -- so you just need to minimize the criminal's
opportunities to get that information. You can make yourself a
harder target and that the best defense. If you are a victim, do
not panic, you will not be out any money. The losses will be
attributed to the banks and/or companies associated with the fraud.
Minimize
The Risk. While you
probably cannot prevent identity theft entirely, you can minimize your
risk. Identity theft is on the rise and it can happen to
anyone. It can happen to you. By managing your personal
information wisely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you
can help guard against identity theft.
Tips
that will help avoid becoming an easy target for identity theft:
- Sign all credit cards when you receive them.
- Never loan your credit cards to anyone.
- Cancel credit cards that you do not use and keep a
list of the ones you use regularly.
- Immediately report lost or stolen credit cards and
any discrepancies in your monthly statements to the issuing credit card
company.
- Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank wickets,
in trashcans, or at unattended gasoline pumps; ensure you destroy
paperwork you no longer need.
- Never provide personal information such as social
insurance number (SIN), date of birth, credit card numbers, or personal
identification number (PIN) over the telephone unless you initiate the
call.
- Promptly remove mail from your ‘secure’ mailbox after
delivery and do not leave pieces of mail lying around your residence or
work site.
- Shred or otherwise destroy pre-approved credit card
applications, credit card receipts, bills, insurance forms, physicians’
statements and related information when no longer needed.
- Avoid keeping a written record of your bank PIN, SIN
and computer passwords, and never keep this information in your wallet
or handbag.
- Avoid mail or telephone solicitations disguised as
promotions or surveys offering instant prizes or awards designed for
the purpose of obtaining your personal details including credit card
numbers.
- Before you reveal any personally identifying
information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared.
- Minimize the identification information and the
number of cards you carry. Don’t carry your SIN card; leave it in a
safe place.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles and follow up
with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.
- Utilize passwords on your credit card, bank and phone
accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's
maiden name, your birth date and the last four digits of your SIN or
your phone number.
For
more information on identity theft, visit these websites:
RCMP Scams Alert
Phonebusters
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