Niagara Legal Information Articles

Niagara Legal Information Articles

The articles below have been provided by local legal service professionals. The Niagara Guide is not responsible for their content. Please call the respective contributors if you have any questions regarding the information they are providing.

Identity Theft - How Prepared Are You?

Contributed by Gary Burnett

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in North America, and its not going away. There doesn’t seem to be a way to stop this epidemic and every month and every year statistics show that personal fraud and Identity Theft are on the rise. People say it can’t happen to them, they don’t use bank machines, they don’t put their information on the Internet, they’re careful with their personal information, and they shred all personal papers.

While this may reduce your exposure, the reality is all your personal information is already out there.

Do you have a Driver’s License, a Bank Card, Insurance, a telephone, a video card? You are in hundreds of Data Bases with no control over this information. Identity Theft is no longer just about your credit cards. It’s your personal information that is valuable and being exploited.

There are five areas of ID Theft. First is Driver License Fraud. Someone unable to get a driver’s license obtains one in your name, ends up with speeding charges or a suspended license. You end up with the problem.

The second type is your Social Insurance Number. A person gets a job or starts up a company with your SIN and does everything right except pay the taxes. What do you do when Canada Revenue shows up at your door two, three or even four years later looking to be paid the back taxes?

The third form is your Medical Identification. What is the value of an OHIP card to someone who has a family member suffering a serious illness with no medical coverage? The challenge is, you show up at the hospital for treatment and records show that you have Cancer or Aids, how will you be dealt with? How do you qualify for life insurance?

The fourth way is your Character. Your information is taken and they become you, committing crimes in your name, leaving you responsible for the aftermath. How do you clear your good name after you have been arrested for things you didn’t do?

The fifth way is your Credit, which is less than 28% of the problem and receives most of the media attention.

Now ask yourself where would I start if this happened? How much time will it take? How much will it cost me? Being aware is important, when Identity Theft happens to you, you need Credit Report monitoring, access to Legal Counsel and Real Restoration of your good name.

According to the Toronto Sun one in five Canadians will be affected by Identity Theft this year alone. The Federal Trade Commission states that it takes an average of 600 hours and $1,500.00 in expenses to do a restoration of your good name. That’s not including the obvious legal expenses that would be incurred. One thing you know for sure, if you have an Identity Theft you have yourself a legal problem.

You can protect you and your family for less than a coffee a day. Educate yourself today so that you are less of a victim tomorrow. Information is power, its not IF it’s WHEN..... are YOU ready?

Gary Burnett is an ambassador with the St Catharines & Thorold Chamber of Commerce and had has conducted Lunch & Learns regarding Identity Theft.

To learn more about reducing the risk of ID fraud and the services mentioned contact Gary Burnett at 1-888-892-3568 or by e-mail.

 

 

 

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