March is Fraud Prevention Month

The RCMP are reminding people to take precautions so you don't become a victim of fraud or identity theft.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, New Brunswickers reported losing more than $800,000 to frauds and scams in 2010... and that's just the people who actually reported it!
Meanwhile, reports of identity theft decreased significantly, down by 229%! Although some skeptics believe it's because people are not reporting it, or even know about it.

So if you've been a victim of fraud or identity theft, there's 4 things to do.
1. Contact your local police
2. Contact your financial institution
3. Contact the 2 National Credit Bureaus
4. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center

Here's some tips you can take in order to protect yourself from Identity Theft:

1. Keep a photocopy of all of your credit cards, bank account numbers and other important information in a safe place. Making back-up copies will help you trace and cancel your stolen or lost cards if they are lost or stolen.
2. Credit card receipts should be disposed properly because they contain information about yourself and your account. This information may help thieves to possible steal your identity. Shred your bills and receipts to ensure that personal information is not made easily available. However the best way to totally destroy your documents is by incineration.
   
3. If a credit card that you have applied for does not arrive on time, contact your credit institution and relay the problem.
   
4. Create a good combination of numbers for your PIN or passwords. Make sure that you choose difficult to guess PIN numbers. Birth dates, mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, usual or famous number combinations, etc. should not be used for your PIN or passwords.
5. Do not give your personal information to anyone who sends you an email, calls you, or sends you snail mail.
6. Observe the area surrounding the bank machine you're about to use. Make sure no one can observe your transaction. Make sure there isn't unusual equipment attached to the ATM.
   
7. Check bills every month. All entries in the bill must be made with your permission. If there are charges included in the bill which you do not know, immediately report it to your credit institution and ask for an investigation.
8. Do not keep personal documents in your car. If you must keep something in your car, put it in your glove department and lock it.
   
9. Secure all your personal information in your mobile phone and laptop with a password. Remember that laptops and mobile phones are personal gadgets that are not to be used by anyone else and these items can be easily misplaced, lost or stolen.