HOW MANY OF "YOU" ARE THERE?

Categorized | It's the Money, Honey!

HOW MANY OF "YOU" ARE THERE?

Posted on 22 March 2009 by Markham Hislop.

Do you know everything you have been up to lately? That might seem like a very strange question, but the reality is “you” might have been much busier than you remember.

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in North America. It is fast, easy, profitable, and isn’t even a crime in and of itself in Canada currently.

Unfortunately for us, and to the benefit of the scum that make their living ruining the lives of others, our laws have not caught up with the reality of this invasive crime. The consequence for your life can be far more devastating than any vandalism or burglary of your physical property.

Talk to anyone who has had their identity stolen in one form or another, and they will tell you horror stories. Lost time, reputation, and money are just the icing on the cake.

http://www.safecanada.ca/identitytheft_e.asp
http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/le/bs/report-en.asp

Most people have heard about Identity Theft, but very few people know the true scope of it. There are five types of Identity Theft: Financial, Social Insurance Number, Drivers License, Character, and Medical.

Financial. Someone using your credit card to do their shopping; signing up for loans, mortgages, and other bills; or making a copy of your bank card in order to empty your accounts.

Social Insurance Number

Someone steals your SIN and obtains employment in your name. The thief’s employer reports wages earned to CCRA under your SIN leaving you to pay income taxes on these earnings. This can impact you in terms of your benefits such as Child Tax Credit, Universal Child Care Benefit, Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, and Canada Pension Plan.

Drivers License

Someone commits traffic related offenses in your name. When they fail to appear in court, warrants are issued in your name.

Character

Someone impersonates you and commits a crime in your name resulting in warrants issued in your name, arrests made, and time spent in jail.

Medical

Someone steals your identity and either obtains medical insurance in your name or uses your current medical insurance policy to obtain treatment or prescriptions. Their medical information will be placed in your file and therefore can have serious and potentially lethal affects on you should a medical emergency occur.

Join us next week when we teach you how to better protect yourself and your true identity.

“The victims can even be infants. If you have a social security number, you can be a victim of identity theft.”
Melodi Gates