Protect Your Identification With This ID Protection Checklist

Before you become a victim, do the following: 

1. Freeze / lock your credit profile with all three major credit bureaus. 
   1. TransUnion Canada: https://www.transunion.ca/ 
   2. TransUnion U.S.: https://www.transunion.com/credit-reports-disclosures/free-credit-report
   3. Equifax Canada: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/personal/contact-us/ 
   4. Equifax U.S. https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/free-credit-reports/
   5. Experian U.S.: https://www.experian.com/consumer-products/free-credit-report.html
2. Freeze your banking profile 
   1. Canada, call your bank
   2. U.S. you can use ChexSystems: 1-800-428-962
3. Request a Tax ID Pin 
   1. Canada 
   2. U.S. with the IRS via ID.ME Visit https://api.id.me/en/registration/new and create a new account; then follow prompts to request an IRS PIN
4. Put a freeze on your utility profile with NCTUE 
   1. Canada 
   2. U.S. https://www.exchangeservicecenter.com/Freeze/
5. Enable notifications with ALL sensitive accounts. 
   1. Your financial institutions (transactions & new logins) 
   2. Online shopping vendors (orders & new logins) 
   3. Email, Google, Microsoft, Apple… (new logins) 
   4. Social media (new logins)
6. Enable 2-factor authentication for ALL sensitive accounts. 
   1. Your financial institutions 
   2. Online shopping vendors 
   3. Email, Google, Microsoft, Apple… 
   4. Social media
7. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date for ALL sensitive accounts (do this regularly)  
   1. Your financial institutions 
   2. Online shopping vendors 
   3. Email, Google, Microsoft, Apple… 
   4. Social media
8. Ensure your mailing address matches your current address on all forms of ID.  
   1. Social Insurance/Social Security 
   2. Driver’s license’ 
   3. Passport
9. Update every password so it is unique and sufficiently complex 
   1. Your financial institutions 
   2. Online shopping vendors 
   3. Email, Google, Microsoft, Apple… 
   4. Social media
10. Request a voice password or PIN to protect each sensitive account. 
    1. Your financial institutions 
    2. Online shopping vendors 
    3. Email, Google, Microsoft, Apple… 
    4. Social media
11. Research and seriously consider purchasing ID Theft Protection (be sure it includes: 1) ID Theft insurance; 2) credit restoration services; 3) protection for entire family; and 4) good cyber security software if your devices aren’t already well protected), i.e., Zander Insurance ID Theft Protection 
12.  General Security Hygiene 
    1. Avoid clicking on attachments sent to you via email or text. (If it’s an important link, verify it really is legitimately from a trusted sender first.) 
    2. Avoid dodgy website surfing; keep devices protected and up-to-date. 
    3. Verify customer service numbers before you call them. 
    4. Be hyper-vigilant WHENEVER receiving incoming calls. 

Responding to identity theft if you are a victim

1. Complete ID Protection Checklist (above) 
2. File ID Theft report 
   1. Canada: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/Oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca03025.html 
   2. U.S. with FTC: www.identitytheft.gov
3. Contact your local police department and fill out an ID theft packet, then request a copy of the police report including the case number. 
4. Download your credit reports from each of the credit bureaus: 
   1. U.S. https://www.annualcreditreport.com
5. Buy a notebook & pen for journaling all ID theft related communications. 
6. Contact each financial institution affected by your ID theft. 
7. Prepare a snail-mail letter for each credit bureau to dispute fraudulent accounts and fraudulent contact information. 
   1. Include copies of your ID 
   2. Include list of current and previous addresses 
   3. Include a copy of your recent bank statement and utility bills verifying your current address
   4. Copy of law enforcement reports (including case numbers) 
   5. Detailed and notarized statement with all known details regarding your case of identity theft
   6. Send them to each credit bureau (2 in Canada, 3 in the US)