livingfeature
Canadian credit bureaus, such as
“Online, changing passwords on a regular basis and creating hard to hack
Equifax or TransUnion to look for
passwords is essential to preventing criminals from breaking into online accounts.
suspicious activity, such as unknown
The best way to prevent identity theft online is to limit online presence,” says
applications for loans or credit. By
Travis. Identity thieves will even access personal photos and use pictures of
tracking spending, scanning through
unassuming over-sharers to steal identities.
credit card transaction reports on
Criminals are always thinking of new ways to acquire information. “We
a weekly basis, and staying on top
are seeing more incidents of ‘card skimming’ where passwords and account
of all accounts, when and if identity
information [are] being acquired through card readers attached to point-of-sale
theft or fraud does happen, it’s not
devices,” says Travis. He adds that chip cards have helped to reduce incidents of
over a long period of time, which can
card fraud, but theft is still prevalent and continues to evolve.
become complicated to sort out.
A newer form of identity theft targets email users, and can look very
legitimate. Also called phishing, cyber“Online, changing passwords on a
criminals will send an email that appears in
look and language to come from a trusted
regular basis and creating hard to hack
source, but clicking on a link embedded
in the email will release a virus into the
passwords is essential to preventing
user’s computer, or will request personal
criminals from breaking into online
information be entered. From requests
to reset an email password to entering a
accounts. The best way to prevent identity
credit card number to verify an account,
fraudsters prey on fears that our email or
theft online is to limit online presence.”
accounts have already been hacked and
that by providing verification it will reverse or prevent further damage. As soon
“If you discover your identity has
as users enter a password or credit card number, they have just willingly provided
been stolen, it’s important to contact
criminals with personal information or access to information on their hard drives.
your financial institutions and credit
Despite the many ways criminals can obtain vulnerable information through
card companies, and to put a fraud
illegal means, victims of identity theft have rights. “For the most part, financial
alert on your accounts through a
institutions and credit card companies reimburse victims of identity theft, but
credit bureau. Then it’s time to give us
it can still be a ton of work and effort on the part of the victim to get their
a call and forward the complaint on to
money back and restore their identity,” Travis explains. The inconvenience of
police,” Travis says.
frozen accounts and limited access to credit can plague victims for months or
Since many incidents of identity
even years.
theft occur across jurisdictional
Travis also suggests running credit checks on a regular basis through reputable
or international boundaries, the
Upcoming Events
Music from Down Under
March 19
Lethbridge Community Silver Band
~ Samuel Yamamoto, conductor ~
Canadian Western Bank Lounge,
ENMAX Centre ~ 7PM
A World of Music
April 16
Nick Sullivan, bass trombone
Lethbridge Community Gold Band
~ Ken Rogers, conductor ~
College Drive Community Church ~ 7PM
Tickets ($15) available at Casa
or the door
Visit lcbs.ca for more information
Ups and Downs Clothing & Accessories
328 Highway Avenue, Picture Butte, AB
403-732-5972
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
40
LETHBRIDGELIVING.COM
MAR-APR 2016