Identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and the United States.

What is Identity Theft:
Identity theft refers to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.

Signs your identity might have been stolen:

•	Bills and statements don't arrive when they are supposed to - they may have been stolen from the mailbox or someone has changed the mailing address
•	You receive calls from collection agencies or creditors for an account you don't have or that is up to date. Someone may have opened a new account in your name, or added charges to an account without your knowledge or permission
•	Financial account statements show withdrawals or transfers you didn't make
•	A creditor calls to say you've been approved or denied credit that you haven't applied for. Or, you get credit card statements for accounts you don't have
•	You were denied credit for reasons that do not match your understanding of your financial position

Keeping your Key Documents Secure:
Documents that contain important personal information, such as your driver's license, birth certificate, Social Insurance Card, passport, or citizenship and immigration documents can be resources for identity thieves. Criminals can use these documents to obtain others and to gain access to more of your personal and financial information. Keep these documents safe to ensure that they don't fall into the wrong hands. If one of these documents is lost or stolen, notify the issuing agency right away.

If you are a Victim:
The Department of the Solicitor General of Canada and the United States Department of Justice advise that if you have become a victim of identity theft, you should take three immediate steps.

First, contact your bank or credit card company if you have had your checks or credit cards stolen or wrongfully obtained.

Second, report the matter to your local police of jurisdiction. Police authorities often will take police reports even if the crime ultimately may be investigated by another law enforcement agency. In addition, a creditor who mistakenly believes that you are the person responsible for a fraudulent transaction may want to see a copy of a police report before correcting your credit account or credit report.

Third, report your identity theft case immediately to the appropriate government and private-sector organizations.

Don't get caught without the coverage you need. IF you currently have property insurance will CAA Insurance, contact us at 1 877 222-1717 to add Identity Theft coverage to your policy. For those not insured with CAA Insurance, contact 1 800 992-8143 for more information on how you can be protected.