Fraud Prevention

Identity crime is one of the fastest growing forms of criminal activity in Canada at this time. Identity crime involves the unauthorized gathering, trading or use of another person’s personal information including credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, and drivers licence numbers, which are then used to facilitate other criminal activities.

In some cases, the victim’s personal information is used to make fraudulent purchases on the victim’s credit card. In other cases, the victim’s information is used to open bank accounts, purchase cell phones, and obtain loans and mortgages.

These crimes can damage a person’s credit rating and financial status and cause emotional suffering that is similar to victims of violent crimes. In some cases it may take years for the victims to recover their credit rating.

Prevention Tips

• Don’t leave your wallet or purse unattended or even in your locked vehicle.
• Shred all bills, bank statements and any other documents that contain identity information prior to placing them in the trash.
• Regularly check your bank account and utility statement for any unusual activity
• Review your credit report to ensure there is no suspicious activity
• Check your mailbox daily to prevent theft of mail
• Arrange to pick up new cards such as credit cards at your bank rather than having them mailed to your home address
• Don’t open any unknown emails or respond to unsolicited requests for personal information
• For more information on fraud and identity theft, see Online Anti-Fraud Resources or Elder Fraud Information.
• The Economic/Technical Crime Unit is available for community presentations on fraud awareness and prevention – call 604.946.4411.

Guide for Victims of Cybercrime, Fraud, and Other Identity Crimes

If you suspect that you are a victim of cybercrime or identity theft, you can take the following steps to help minimize the damage and prevent any further fraud:

Contact your financial institution: Notify your financial institutions immediately to have them cancel your cards and re-issue them and put alerts on your accounts.

Report the incident to the police: Contact your local police agency to obtain a file number for your creditors. If the incident occurred in Delta, call 604-946-4411 to report it to the Delta Police Department. You will receive a file number even if a police officer does not attend in person. This file number is often required by various agencies. Police departments use this information to map crime locations, identify suspects, and analyze trends.

File a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for all cyber, fraud and Identity crimes: The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the agency responsible for collecting information on Fraud, Identity Crimes and Cybercrime affecting Canadians. The CAFC collects this information order to provide warnings to the public, guidance for victims and to assist the Police and other investigative agencies in combating crime.

Contact the credit rating bureaus if your identity information is lost or stolen, or if you are a victim of fraud: Contact both of the credit reporting agencies Equifax and Trans Union, obtain a copy of your credit report and ask that a fraud alert be placed on your credit file. Review your credit report, looking for any accounts that appear to be fraudulently opened. For any such accounts, make inquiries with those creditors with whom you did not apply for services.

Visit your driver licensing office if your driver's licence has been stolen: You will need to bring some approved identification to have your licence replaced. Expect to pay a fee. For citizens of British Columbia you can contact ICBC for more information.

Contact Service Canada if your Social Insurance Card has been stolen: Should your Social Insurance Card be deemed stolen, you will need to apply for a new one. Your card number can be found on your income tax return. You cannot use copies of documents to apply for a new SIN card and must take original documents. Contact Service Canada for more information.

Report stolen or missing BC Services or Care Card to Health Insurance BC: Two pieces of identification are required for the replacement process. You can find out how to replace your card by visiting the website of the Government of British Columbia. 

Report lost or stolen passports and Canadian travel documents to Passport Canada: Information on how to replace the document can be found by visiting the website of the Government of Canada. You may also report in person at your nearest Service Canada centre.

Report stolen birth certificates: Inform your local police agency and visit Vital Statistics BC to learn more.

For more information on fraud and identity theft, see Online Anti-Fraud Resources.

• Contact your wireless service provider immediately to flag and suspend your account
• Have your IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number written down or stored somewhere safe (you may access this number by typing *#06# into the keypad of your device or by looking on the back of your device behind the battery). If you know your IMEI number your wireless provider can add your phone to the National Blacklist Registry which means it will not be able to be activated
• Contact any banking institutions or change the passwords to any online banking and other online accounts that you access automatically from your phone.