How can I protect myself from identity theft?
Lisa Marie from Victoria emailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca, and RBC financial expert Priscilla Yu, answered;
It's more important than ever to protect your personal and financial information. Here are a few tips, to help reduce the risk of being a victim of identity theft:
- Keep your personal information private and secure -- for example, only provide your Social Insurance Number when absolutely necessary - like for tax purposes or opening accounts.
- Protect your PIN and passwords - don't reveal them to anyone, including your bank, family or friends.
- Don't leave a paper trail -- always shred or destroy your receipts, copies of credit applications or insurance forms. Identity thieves will pick through your garbage, so just throwing these items away isn't enough.
- Limit your exposure -- leave your birth certificate and social insurance card at home, locked in a safe place. You don't need these items during the course of everyday life so don’t store them in your wallet.
Review your bank statements regularly; just to make sure that all the transactions listed, were made by you. If you discover unauthorized or missing transactions on any of your accounts, call your bank branch, right away.
Fighting identity theft really comes down to being careful, and staying alert.
For more information on Identity Theft and how to protect yourself visit rbc.com
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Priscilla Yu is currently a Product Manager for Personal Deposit Accounts with RBC Royal Bank. Priscilla is a Financial Services professional with over 10 years experience in both banking and credit products. An aspiring photographer, Priscilla is saving for her next big travelling adventure where she can get the perfect picture!