AMA Insider Spring 2016 | Page 53

that looks like a communication from your bank or credit card company. “If you receive what I call ‘unsolicited contact,’ as in they contacted you first, don’t reply or click on the link,” Allen advises. Instead, visit your bank branch with a printout of the email, or call your credit card company at the number on the back of your card. Other mass-marketing fraud (a.k.a. phishing) scams include emails from strangers telling you that you’ve inherited a fortune or won the lottery—and the sender needs your banking information to arrange the transaction, or for you to pay a delivery charge. “Don’t take anything at face value,” Allen says. The first step in guarding against identity fraud is being aware of how it can happen. Then, take a good look at everything in your wallet and determine if an item—such as your SIN card—really needs to be in there. You should also check your credit report to make sure it’s accurate and to see which lenders have accessed it. You’re entitled to one free check per year from companies such as Equifax and TransUnion, and you can also pay for ongoing credit monitoring to get alerts if your report changes. Shredding items such as bills, receipts, RRSP statements and even more harmless documents like loyalty program statements (they can be used to initiate fraud) is another easy way to keep your personal info from getting out. Monthly bills, including credit cards or utilities, should be destroyed once they’ve been reconciled. For more details on what to shred and when, see ama.ab.ca/Shredding. And always trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, contact the company directly to make certain the message really came from them. To protect your identity, the best thing you can do is limit other people’s access to it, whether in person, online or over the phone. Don’t provide information unless you know it’s necessary. Then make sure you learn how your details will be handled. “I don’t want to scare people so much that they stop living,” Allen says, “but they have to be more cautious than they are now.” NOW EVEN EASIER WITH automatic RELOADS! MEMBERS EARN 2% IN AMA REWARD DOLLARS ON RELOADABLE ESSO CARDS* PURCHASED AT AN AMA CENTRE. Keep earning every time you reload your card in-centre, online or set up Automatic Reload. With Automatic Reload we will maintain your Esso card balance as you use it. All you need is a credit card and we’ll make sure your savings never run out of gas! AMARewards.ca/Esso † † Trademark of Imperial Oil Limited. * This is a prepaid reloadable Esso Gift Card, not a credit card. Improve Your Speech Comprehension – Without Attracting Attention Book Connect Hearing, provides industry-leading hearing care and advanced hearing aid technology, like the NEW Phonak Virto V: • Custom-fit, designed just for you • Virtually invisible - no one will know you are wearing them • Automatically adapts to your specific listening situation Your Free Evaluation Today * Find out if the NEW Phonak Virto V is right for you: 1.888.486.0177 or connecthearing.ca/caa *No fees and no purchase necessary. Complimentary Hearing Evaluations are only applicable for customers over 50 years of age. See clinic for details. ®CAA, CAA logo and CAA Rewards trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association.