Protect your identity

Identity theft is the illegal use of your personal information. It involves stealing the identity of another person, usually for the purpose of financial gain or other criminal purposes.

Your name, date of birth, address, credit card number, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and other personal information can be used to take over your existing bank accounts or to open new ones, as well as to apply for credit cards, redirect mail, establish cellular phone service, rent vehicles, buy merchandise, and even secure employment.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has published a guidance document called Identity theft and you to share tips for reducing your risk of identity theft.

If you become a victim of identity theft, follow these steps:

1. Report the crime to the police immediately and ask for a copy of the police report as proof of the theft for any organization you need to contact.
2. Ask your bank or financial institution and credit card company to place a notice on your accounts.
3. Contact Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada to place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
4. Report the theft and fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
5. Contact Canada Post if you suspect that someone’s diverting your mail.
6. Advise your phone company, cable provider and any other utilities that someone using your name could try to open new accounts fraudulently.

If you’re a Co-operators client:

1. Identity fraud recovery expense is included on your home, condominium, tenant, residential and seasonal insurance policies at no extra cost. This coverage provides a reimbursement of up to $10,000 for expenses associated with someone stealing and using your personal information for fraudulent transactions. For more information, ask your local financial representative about this coverage.
2. If you believe you may have been a victim of identity theft, contact us immediately to let us know.
3. We are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, accuracy, and security of any personal information collected, used, retained, and disclosed in the course of doing business with you. For more information on our privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy Statement and Disclosure.