Fighting Fraud
Fraud: recognize it, report it, stop it.
Fighting fraud is something we take very seriously. We have extensive security systems and practices in place to protect you and let you conduct your financial affairs in a safe, private manner. While we do our best to safeguard your interests, you should also take precautions to protect yourself and your money.
We work with organizations like the RCMP, the Competition Bureau and Reporting Economic Crime Online (RECOL) to help fight fraud, raise consumer awareness of how to spot, report and stop it. There are many types of fraud you should be aware of, such as identity theft, advance fee fraud, online auction, credit/debit card fraud, and cheque fraud.
Check our other security-related sections and keep some of this information in mind to remain fraud-free:
- Be very, very careful with your Social Insurance Number (SIN). It's an important key to your identity, especially in credit reports and computer databases. Use other types of identification when possible (and when your SIN is not required by law). Don't carry your SIN card with you.
- Never disclose your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to anyone. If you do, you could be held liable for losses. No one from a financial institution, the police or a merchant should ask for your PIN. Change your PIN number regularly.
- Be PIN smart. Never assign the same PIN to all your pinned cards; if someone steals your wallet and discovers your PIN, rest assured they'll test that PIN against all cards in your wallet. Can't memorize all the PINs for your cards? Thoroughly disguise them. Embed them in a list of phone numbers; amend them through some formula only you would know. Remember; never carry this list close to your card or put them together in your wallet.
- Guard your PIN use. Use your hand as a shield to prevent others from observing you entering your PIN when conducting a transaction by ATM, debit, telephone or computer. Don't use ATM or point of sale machines where you don't feel secure, and don't let your card be "swiped" twice. Always keep your card in view.
- Choose difficult passwords and change them often. Memorize your passwords and don't write them down and leave them in your wallet, or an equally obvious place. Never share them.
- Set up . You'll get a text or email message when there is suspicious activity on your Online Banking accounts – for example, three unsuccessful log-in attempts or a change made to your Online Personal Access Code (PAC) – and can take steps to investigate.
- Keep statements in a safe place. They contain sensitive and personal information. Check them as soon as they arrive to ensure all charges are correct. Shred them when you are done, using a cross-shredder rather than a strip-shredder.
- Clean up at the ATM machine. After completing an ATM or debit transaction, remember to take your card and receipts.
- Destroy receipts. Check all debit and credit card receipts for accuracy, then shred them. They contain part or all of your card number. Many cases of identity theft have been a result of ‘dumpster diving‘.
- Keep on top of credit reports. You can access your credit report from a credit reporting agency like Equifax or Trans Union. We recommend checking it once a year to ensure the report is accurate and doesn't include debts or activities you haven't authorized or incurred.
- Minimize the identification information and number of cards you carry, especially when traveling, whether locally or abroad.
- Sign your credit cards in permanent ink as soon as you receive them.
- Promptly remove your mail from the mailbox; notify Canada Post to hold your mail if you are going to be away for some time.
- Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up if your bills don't arrive on time.
To learn more or to report a fraud, contact the following organizations: