Protecting Your Identity: Tips from Fellowes for the Holiday Season
The Holiday Season is hunting season for identity thieves - someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal information in a way that involves fraud or deception. Research shows that identity theft will affect one in six adult Canadians - more than 4.2 million people - either directly or within their immediate households. These hunters will be out in full force waiting to get your personal information in their sights. Perhaps they'll open a credit card in your name and purchase some amazing gifts. Or maybe they'll drain your entire bank account, leaving you empty on
Here's some practical advice to keep your private data out of the wrong hands:
- Sign all credit cards with permanent ink marker as soon as you receive them - pen rubs off quite easily. And never lend your credit card to anyone. - Don't carry your social insurance number with you - that number is gold to identity thieves. - Shred all paperwork you no longer need, such as: bank machine receipts, receipts from electronic and credit card purchases, utility bills, and any document that contains personal and/or financial information. - Cancel and destroy credit cards via shredding if you no longer use them and keep a list of the ones you use regularly. - Shred or destroy pre-approved credit card applications you do not want before putting them in the trash. - Watch your mailbox for your monthly bills. Pay attention to your billing cycles and follow up with your creditors and utility companies if your bills do not arrive on time.
Fellowes
For further information: Mary-Margaret Jones, PUNCH Communications, (416) 360-6522 ext. 241, [email protected]
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