Fraud

• How do I remove or update my Fraud Statement?
• How do I know if I'm a victim of fraud? 
• How do I restore my credit after I've been a victim of fraud? 
• How long does a fraud alert stay on my credit file? 
• What should I do if I'm a possible victim of credit fraud? 
• How can I update my contact information in my fraud alert? 
• How can I contact your Fraud Department? 
• Who else can I contact while I resolve my fraud situation? 
• If I add the fraud statement for six years, will I still be able to get credit? 
• What are some tips for avoiding fraud? 
• Does adding a fraud warning prevent information from updating to my credit file?
• How can I place a fraud warning if I hold Power of Attorney for a Consumer?
• How can I place a fraud warning on a deceased Consumer file if fraud has occurred?

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
P.O. Box 338, LCD 1
Hamilton, Ontario
L8L 7W2

Phone: 1-877-525-3823
Fax: 1-877-411-2611

For residents of Quebec:

TransUnion (Echo Group)
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
1 Place Laval, suite 370
Laval, Quebec
H7N 1A1

• One of your creditors informs you that they have received an application for credit with your name, address and/or Social Insurance Number.
• Telephone calls or letters state that you have been approved or declined by a creditor to which you never applied.
• You no longer receive your credit card statements or you notice pieces of mail are no longer delivered to you.
• Your credit card statement includes unusual purchases.
• A collection agency informs you they are collecting for a defaulted account that has been established with your identity but not opened by you.
  
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Step One: Review your credit report 

Review your TransUnion credit file for any unauthorized account and inquiry information. Should any of the information on your credit file not pertain to you, please contact the credit grantor directly and ask about the account or inquiry.

Step Two: Contact Creditors 

Explain your situation to the credit grantor and ask for an explanation of the procedures for fraudulent accounts or charges. You may be required to complete an “Affidavit of Fraud” and / or send additional documentation. These may include a police report, a copy of your driver’s license and documents from other credit card companies confirming the accounts as fraudulent. Once each creditor acknowledges fraud, ask the creditor to send you and all major credit reporting agencies a letter of confirmation.

We suggest you keep a log of all phone conversations when dealing with each Credit Card Company and financial institution. Record all dates, names and notes about what you discussed with each company. Follow up with each company and ask about the progress of the investigation. The inquiries shown on your report can remain indefinitely. However, inquiries determined to be fraudulent are removed upon that determination.

Step Three: Contact Credit Reporting Agency 

Contact the other major credit reporting agency, Equifax and request that a protective statement be placed onto your credit file. Be sure to ask how long the statement will remain on your report. Ask if any recent activity appears on your credit file. If so, ask for each name, address and / or telephone number of any unauthorized account or inquiry. In addition, ask to receive a copy of your credit file for you to review. Carefully review the reports for any unauthorized activity and also contact those creditors to ask about the account and / or inquiry. Keep in mind that each of the major credit reporting bureaus may have different procedures. It is best that you contact each company and ask what the procedures are.

Step Four: Contact Financial Institutions 

Notify your financial institution for suggestions on how to handle your concerns regarding your existing accounts.

Step Five: Contact Service Canada
If you believe your Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used fraudulently, you should contact your local Service Canada Office for advise on protecting your SIN.  You should take with you all of your personal identification and any documents you may have which pertain to this situation. To identify an office near you and for more information on this subject, you may visit:

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/

Step Six: Notify TransUnion of Any Fraudulent Accounts Reporting on Your Personal File 

If you have received any documentation from credit card companies that were victimized, forward this information to TransUnion. Once your dispute forms and/or documents are received by our office, we contact each creditor involved and verify the account information you are disputing. It may take time for a creditor to investigate your claim that an account is fraudulent. At the completion of our investigation we will send you an updated copy of your credit file, if we have received the appropriate identification, reflecting the results of our investigation.

Step Seven: Order your Credit Report 

Order your credit report once a year from all the major credit reporting companies. Check for any unauthorized activity. Should any information on your credit file not pertain to you, contact the creditors and question the account and / or inquiry.

Please contact the Fraud Victim Assistance Department at 1-877-525-3823 or for Quebec residents, please call 1-877-713-3393 to add a fraud protective statement to your credit report.

• Immediately report the incident to the police, especially if it involves stolen identification. Insist on receiving a complaint number.
• Immediately report all stolen cards to the issuers and request new credit cards. Follow up with written notification.
• Notify your bank if your cheques were stolen and close your account.
• Be prepared to fill out Affidavits of forgery to establish your innocence for banks, credit grantors and recipients of stolen cheques. These institutions are joint victims with you and may suffer a financial loss.
• If you believe your Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used fraudulently, you should contact your local Human Resources & Skills Development Office for advise on protecting your SIN. You should take with you all of your personal identification and any documents you may have which pertain to this situation.
• Get a new card, account number and password if you use an ATM card for banking services. Do not renew your old password.
• Notify the postal inspector if you suspect mail theft. Theft of mail is a felony.
• Contact TransUnion’s Fraud Victim Assistance Department and Equifax Canada to place fraud alerts on your credit files. FVAD offers a seven-step program for protecting and assisting all victims of credit fraud. You can reach FVAD toll-free at 1-877-525-3823 or for Quebec residents, please call 1-877-713-3393.

Q How can I update my contact information in my fraud alert?
A To change the contact information in your alert, please contact our Fraud Victim Assistance Department (FVAD). Any changes to the statement need to be sent in writing with two photocopied pieces of identification.

Phone: 1-877-525-3823
Fax: 1-877-411-2611

For Quebec Residents:

TransUnion (Echo Group)
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
1 Place Laval, suite 370
Laval, Quebec
H7N 1A1

Phone: 1-877-713-3393
Fax: 1-888-280-5538

Phone: 1-877-525-3823
Fax: 1-877-411-2611

For Quebec Residents:

TransUnion (Echo Group)
1 Place Laval, suite 370
Laval, Quebec
H7N 1A1

Phone: 1-877-713-3393
Fax: 1-888-280-5538

• Do not carry your extra credit cards, social insurance card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse except when necessary. This practice minimizes the amount of information a thief can steal.
• Ensure all mail is re-reouted if you move or change your mailing address.
• Advise creditors of any change of address at the time of your move.
• Install a lockable mailbox at your residence to reduce mail theft.
• To avoid family fraud, avoid family member's access to your accounts. If you allow access, you have just assumed the debt.
• Take credit card receipts with you. Never toss them in a public trash container.
• Never leave your purse or wallet unattended at work or in church, restaurants, health fitness clubs, parties or shopping carts. Never leave your purse or wallet in open view in your car, even when your car is locked.
• Destroy all cheques immediately after you close a chequing account. Destroy or keep in a secure place any courtesy cheques that your bank or credit card company sends you.
• Do not have your bank send your new cheques to your home address. Tell them that you prefer to pick them up.
• Reconcile your cheque and credit card statements in a timely fashion and challenge any purchases you did not make.
• Limit the number of credit cards you have and cancel any inactive accounts.
• Never give any credit card, bank or social insurance information to anyone by telephone, even if you made the call unless you can positively verify that the call is legitimate.
• Minimize exposure of your social insurance and credit card numbers.
• Do not allow an institution to use your social insurance number as an identifier for your account.
• Try to keep your chequing / saving or credit card account separate from your line of credit. If a fraudster gains access to your account, the losses could be severe.
• Avoid easily identifiable PINs (e.g. date of birth).
• Safeguard your credit / debit and ATM card receipts. Shred them before discarding.
• Scrutinize your utility and subscription bills to ensure that the charges are yours.
• Memorize your passwords and personal identification numbers (PIN) so you do not have to write them down. Be aware of your surroundings to ensure no-one is watching you input your PIN.
• Keep a list of all your credit accounts and bank accounts in a secure place so you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Include account numbers, expiration dates and telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments.
• Do not toss pre-approved credit offers in your trash or recycling bin without first tearing them into small pieces or shredding them. Dumpster divers use these offers to order credit cards in your name and mail to their address. Always do the same with other sensitive information like credit card receipts, phone bills and such.
• Avoid credit repair scams.
• Order your credit report once a year from all the major credit reporting companies. Check for any unauthorized activity. Should any information not pertaining to you show up on your credit file, contact the creditors and question the account and / or inquiry.
  
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