Identity Theft & Fraud Safety | Security and Emergency Management Services | Seneca Students

Nearly 1 in 10 Canadians will experience identity theft. With the availability of flexible technology and the lack of awareness around privacy, this number could steadily rise.

You can prevent yourself or loved ones from being affected by fraud or identity theft if you:

• Avoid carrying your passport, SIN, birth certificate, or Permanent Residency cards. These documents do not need to be used daily.
• Always shield your banking PIN and use caution when online banking in a public place
• Never disclose personal information over the phone or Internet unless you have verified its source.
  • Note that some companies may already have your information on file, so a good rule to follow is to ask them to email any material to the email they have on file. Do not provide this email on your call. If they indicate they do not have your email on file, you should ask how they got your number. 
  • In summary: Ask questions instead of answering them.
• Invest in a document shredder and shred any documents or items that have your personal information such as your name or address.
• When receiving emails, always check the email header and email address for any oddities. Check out this video for more information.

If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud or identity theft you can:

• Stop all communication with the caller.
• Stop making any major financial decisions until your accounts are secured.
• Gather all records you have of the call or email. You can save the email, which will preserve the metadata that can be used in an investigation.
• Notify your financial institution and other companies where you have an account that may have been affected.
• Change all your passwords to your accounts, including social media sites.
• Protect your devices that you use to communicate with the scammer, such as your computer, laptop, tablet, and cellphone.
• Ensure security or operating software on your device is up-to-date.
• Install anti-spyware protection on your computer.
• Perform a virus scan of your hard drive and files.
• Do not send your personal, credit card, or online banking details in an email.
• Put an alert on your credit report by contacting Equifax Canada or TransUnion Canada.

Security Office Locations:

Non-Emergency Online Reporting Tool
• Toronto Police
• York Regional Police
• Peterborough Police