1.       Be cautious when conveying personal information over the phone, internet or through the mail.  Ensure you have initiated the contact and know whom you are dealing with.
   

2.       Before you reveal any personal information, confirm that you are dealing with a legitimate organization, question how they will use your information and if it will be shared.  Review privacy and security policies of the companies with which you do business.
   

3.       Pay attention to your billing cycles and review your account statements regularly to ensure all transactions are in order.  Follow up with creditors if your bills do not arrive on time or charges you have not authorized appear on your statements.
   

4.       Guard your mail.  Deposit outgoing mail in mailboxes and do not leave lying out in the open; promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.  Ensure mail is forwarded or re-routed if you move or change your mailing address.
   

5.       Utilize passwords on your credit cards, bank and phone accounts.  Do not use information that can be used to steal your identity – such as SINs, account numbers, birth dates, names, e-mail addresses or telephone numbers – as passwords or account numbers.
   

6.       Buy a shredding machine … do not recycle documents containing personal information.  This includes such items as charge receipts, credit card and bank statements, cancelled cheques, physician’s statements and credit offers you receive in the mail.
   

7.       Minimize the identification information and number of credit and debit cards you carry.  Carry only what you need.
   

8.       Do not carry your SIN in your purse or wallet – store in a secure place elsewhere and only give out this number when absolutely necessary.
   

9.       Be wary of promotional scams.
   

10.       Store your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.
    

11.       Cancel all unused credit accounts.
    

12.       When ordering personal cheques, pick them up at the bank rather than having them sent to your home address.
    

13.       Check your credit report regularly to ensure no new credit accounts have been opened in your name.  This can be done through three major credit bureaus in Canada (Equifax, NCB Inc. and Trans Union).
    

This information has been brought to you by Lowey Insurance and Peace Hills Insurance.