February, 2005 – Despite a rising number of cases of identity theft every year, Canadian consumers are not protecting themselves properly. These tips are important to help consumers protect themselves:
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Never provide any personal information in response to an unsolicited request. Be wary of phone calls you receive. The caller may not be from the organization they say they are from, and they may be trying to collect information to steal your identity or defraud you. Be wary of email you receive asking you to click on a link to visit a company Web site and re-enter information such as your social insurance number (SIN) or credit card number. Reputable companies will never ask you to re-enter information they already have on file.
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Always ask or look for contact information on unsolicited requests. If you believe the request may be illegitimate, contact the company yourself to verify. Check that all email requests contain the full company name and mailing address and a mechanism for consumers to unsubscribe from future sales and marketing emails. If they do not, be vigilant, as they might be part of a phishing scam.
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Review your account statements regularly to ensure all transactions are in order.
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Check your credit report regularly to ensure no new credit accounts have been opened in your name. This can be done through the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) or through a third party such as Fair Isaac ( http://www.myfico.com).
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Do not use information that can be used to steal your identity � such as SINs, account numbers, birth dates, names, e- mail addresses or telephone numbers � as passwords or account numbers.
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Limit the amount of personal information you divulge over the phone or to Web sites, and be sure you know how this information will be used.
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Review privacy and security policies of the companies with which you do business. Review the privacy policies or statements posted on Web sites to ensure you understand how the information you provide will be used and shared with other organizations.
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Be sure you are applying patches and updates to your PC�s operating system on a regular basis. If using a Windows operating system, be sure to use the automatic updates feature.
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Ensure you have current anti-virus and firewall software installed on your PC and enable the automatic update feature. Run virus scans regularly and remove any spyware found.
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If you are the victim of identity theft, go to the Identity Theft Web site set up by the Canadian Privacy Commissioner at http://www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_10_e.asp. There you will find a list of resolution steps to take if your identity has been stolen.
January 31, 2005 – TORONTO, Ontario � Many Canadian consumers continue to provide personal and confidential information over the phone and via the Web that could lead to fraudulent transactions and even identity theft, according to a national survey. The survey, commissioned by EDS Canada Inc. and conducted by Ipsos-Reid, indicates that when contacted by phone, 61 per cent of Canadians are willing to provide their postal code, 54 per cent will provide their address, 12 per cent will supply their account numbers and 10 per cent will supply passwords. The results suggest that some consumers remain unaware of potential identity theft issues related to telephone scams and �phishing,� in which an email directs a user to a bogus Web site that is set up to steal the user�s information. These Web sites resemble those of legitimate organizations, such as banks.
About the EDS Canada Privacy and Identity Management Survey
The cross-Canada survey was commissioned by EDS Canada Inc. and conducted by Ipsos-Reid, Canada�s leading provider of public opinion research. EDS Canada chose to sponsor this major market survey to assist its clients in the development of identity management solutions that fit the needs of its customers.
The Internet survey received responses from 1,735 Canadians between January 13 and 17, 2005. The results are accurate plus or minus 2.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The survey also provides results for each of the two groups and by region.
About EDS Canada
EDS provides a broad portfolio of business and technology solutions to help its clients worldwide improve their business performance. EDS’ core portfolio comprises informationtechnology, applications and business process services, as well as information-technology transformation services. With 7,600 employees across the country, EDS reported Canadian revenues of $1.05 billion in 2003 With more than $20 billion in annual revenue, EDS is ranked 87th on the Fortune 500. The company�s stock is traded on the New York (NYSE: EDS) and London stock exchanges.
