• You lose your wallet and purse that contains all your identification. TIP: Leave very personal items, such as your SIN at home and do not carry it around with you
• Your mail is stolen. Some mail includes your new debit card and account statement information. 
• Identity theft can also occur if someone goes through your personal garbage. TIP: Be sure to shred all personal and confidential information you receive in the mail
• If your home is broken into, make sure you do not leave personal and confidential information visible. If possible, placing that information into a vault or safety deposit box will ensure it is protected. 
• With banking becoming very digital, your financial security can become compromised with a single click. Be sure not to leave your login credentials saved and enter your account number and password every time you login. 
• When shopping online, do not save your credit card to your favourite shopping sites. If your computer is stolen these are saved and criminals can easily use your card to purchase items. 
• Avoid shopping online and using mobile banking over public Wi-Fi networks. Criminals can easily hack into the Wi-Fi and gather your information. 
• Be sure to only do online shopping from a Secured Site. 
• Be sure to ask the proper questions if someone calls looking for personal information. Many criminals will call pretending to be CRA or a Credit Card Company asking for your personal information. Do not give your information over the phone. Ask the proper conversations and follow up with a representative to ensure the call was them. It is best practice to never give your information out unless you call CRA directly and they are confirming information with you to verify your identity. 

Here are some smart and simple fraud prevention tips that you can start using right now:

• Do not open emails or attachments from people or email addresses you do not recognize.
• Protect your computer with an anti-virus software (ex. Norton Internet Security, MacAfee, etc).
• Perform a full security scan of your computer at least once per week.
• Secure your home wireless network by setting up a password and pin key in order to access your internet, and take extra precaution when you’re in public spaces using open networks.
• Use unique passwords on your accounts that would be difficult for someone to guess (ex. Use a combination of letters, numbers and unique symbols).
• Do not reveal your PIN code or passwords to anyone, including employees of Cape Breton Credit Union, family members, and friends.
• Do not give out personal information over the phone, through email or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and know who you're dealing with. Do not include personal information in regular, unencrypted email or enter it on an unencrypted website as your information will not be secure.
• Be cautious when discarding personal financial information. Be sure to shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, etc.
• Check each of your credit card statements so that you can spot any suspicious charges and report them immediately to your credit card company. 

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a growing concern for Canadians. There are ways that you can be proactive in protecting yourself and your loved ones from this criminal activity. The Consumer Measures Committee has a public, government-sponsored site which has useful information on how to prevent identity theft and what to do if you become a victim of such a crime. Remember to be suspicious of anyone who contacts you by any means and requests personal information such as account numbers, credit card numbers, personal identification numbers (PIN) or passwords. Remember to protect these numbers and passwords when using them in public places.

Overpayment Scams

An overpayment scam is a type of fraud where the person receiving the cheque is actually owed money for goods sold. The seller of an item receives a counterfeit cheque or money order from the purchaser in an amount that is in excess of the amount owed. The seller is then asked to deposit the cheque and wire the excess funds immediately back to the sender/purchaser or the purchaser's agent or shipper. The deposited cheque is subsequently returned as counterfeit and charged back to the seller's account. To protect yourself against this sort of scam, never agree to a deal in which the payer wishes to issue an amount for more than the agreed price and expects you to reimburse the balance. The scammers use a variety of excuses to explain the overpayment, but any such excuse should be treated with the utmost suspicion. Contact your local law enforcement office if you suspect such a scam is taking place.

Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are unsolicited emails designed to prompt the recipient to provide vital personal and/or banking information to the sender. The email may indicate a need to update a personal profile, reactivate an account which has been locked for security purposes, or promises some kind of return for providing the information such as a prize or entry in a draw.