Data Breaches Are on the Rise: Be Prepared, Advises Equifax Canada

TORONTO, Ontario - July 27, 2012 - Marketwire - Identity thieves are constantly inventing more destructive ways to obtain consumers' personal information. Data compromise in both private and public sectors are on the rise, as evident in the recently announced Elections Ontario privacy breach.

While it is impossible to completely prevent identity fraud or theft, consumers can take preventative measures to reduce their personal risk and may consider placing a fraud prevention alert on their credit file. This preventive alert informs creditors that the consumer's personal information may have been lost or stolen and suggests that they validate that the credit application is legitimate. To place a fraud prevention alert on your credit file, call Equifax toll-free at 1-800-465-7166.

Consumers who are aware of potential threats, and who take preventive steps to protect their personal information are significantly less likely to become victims. In addition to placing an alert on your Equifax credit file, here are some of the easiest and most effective ways to combat identity theft:

...Review your credit report regularly - Check your credit report at least once a year. For your free report from Equifax, visit www.equifax.ca.

...Handle your financial accounts and transactions online - Consumers who frequently monitor their accounts online are most likely to uncover fraud the fastest.

...Check your bank, credit card or other financial account web sites for suspicious or unauthorized activity.

...Avoid mailing cheques to pay bills; instead pay bills online and take advantage of new remote deposit cheque imaging services and online banking sites. Install and regularly update firewall, anti-spyware, anti-virus and browser security software.

...Limit the information you share on social media sites - Consumers who have used social media tools for at least five years are twice as likely to be victims of identity theft.

...Never provide personal information unless you initiate the contact.

...Do not click web links when responding to e-mails or text messages, rather go to the site directly.

...Do not respond to automated phone messages or callers prompting you to dial a number or provide personal information to resolve a bank account issue.

...Shop on secure web sites - Online retailers should display an approved security symbol and the transaction should be conducted on an encrypted site.

...Reduce unnecessary access to your personal information wherever possible - Do not carry Social Insurance cards or unused credit cards. Be aware of your surroundings when transacting in public. Cover your keypad and any screens that display sensitive data.

About Equifax

Equifax is a global leader in consumer and commercial information solutions, providing businesses of all sizes and consumers with information they can trust. We organize and assimilate data on more than 500 million consumers and 81 million businesses worldwide, and use advanced analytics and proprietary technology to create and deliver customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Equifax operates or has investments in 17 countries and is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. For more information, please visit www.equifax.ca/reducefraud.

Commissioner Cavoukian investigates Elections Ontario's massive loss of voter data

TORONTO, July 17, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, is investigating a privacy breach at Elections Ontario involving the personal information of an unprecedented number of individuals - up to 2.4 million Ontarians.

On July 5, the Commissioner's office was advised of the loss of two USB keys containing the unencrypted names, home addresses, dates of birth, and gender, as well as whether or not the person had voted in the last election - all included on Ontario voters' lists. The Commissioner advised Elections Ontario to notify the public of this breach as soon as possible. An investigation was immediately launched, with the full cooperation of Elections Ontario, to examine how the breach could have occurred and the existence of privacy policies and procedures in place at the province's election agency.

The investigation is expected to be completed in several weeks, at which time the Commissioner's findings will be released publicly. As part of her report, the Commissioner will be providing guidance that organizations can use to limit the possibility of this type of breach happening in the future.

Commissioner Cavoukian Quotes:

"I am deeply disturbed that a breach of this extent, the largest in Ontario history, involving millions of individuals, could happen at Elections Ontario - the agency charged with protecting the integrity of our electoral process."

"Personal information is the currency in which Elections Ontario trades. It is my expectation that personally-identifiable information will not be stored on USB keys, laptops or other mobile devices - full stop. That is the message I have repeatedly given over the years. If it is absolutely necessary, to transfer personal information to a mobile device, it should first be de-identified or protected with strong encryption."

"Given the magnitude of this breach, impacting millions of Ontarians, the loss of electors' personal information will of course raise concerns of identity theft. Resources are available on my website, www.ipc.on.ca, to learn how to protect your personal information, and what to do if you become a victim of identity theft."

About the Information and Privacy Commissioner

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by and reports to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which applies to both public and private sector health information custodians. A vital component of the Commissioner's mandate is to help educate the public about access and privacy issues.

Canada’s First Support Centre to Provide Resources for Victims of Identity Theft Launches with Events in Ottawa and Vancouver

Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Jennifer Stoddart Joins the Ottawa Event

OTTAWA June 28, 2012 – The Canadian Identity Theft Support Centre, a new, first-of-its-kind support centre dedicated to victims of identity crimes was launched today with events in both Vancouver and Ottawa. Canada’s Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, marked the occasion by delivering a statement at the Ottawa kick-off.

“Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in Canada and with this launch, victims can call into our Centre and receive guidance and support to help regain control of their lives,” said Kevin Scott, President of the Canadian Identity Theft Prevention Association. “Victims are typically left to figure things out on their own, which can take up to hundreds of hours and incur huge costs. We assist individuals free-of-charge, from start to finish in the process of identity recovery.”

In addition to a toll-free number and live, step-by-step support, the Centre provides online resources to help victims deal with the fallout of identity theft, ranging from credit and debit card fraud to wholesale takeovers of lives. The Centre also offers resources for individuals seeking information on prevention of identity crimes, and provides advice on protective measures that can reduce the risk of identity theft.

“Identity theft is a particularly troublesome crime from the victim’s standpoint, as they must first prove that they are not the fraudster,” said Sue Sproule, assistant professor, Brock University and Canadian expert on identity theft. “The Canadian Identity Theft Support Centre will provide much needed support to Canadian victims.”

Over the next two to three years, the Centre plans to grow its operations, offering services in multiple languages and creating satellite offices across Canada. The Center’s flagship ‘call-centre’ will provide free telephone support from expert case advisors who will assist Canadians from coast-to-coast and will specialize in assisting vulnerable groups, including seniors and youth. The Centre will also provide state-of-the-art online support in the form of interactive video presentations, online tool kits and downloadable ‘how-to’ packages.

“Anyone can become a victim of identity theft, and the Centre’s ultimate target audience is all potential victims – or in other words, all Canadians,” said Lindsay Lee, Director, Canadian Identity Theft Support Centre. “With more Canadians living on-line it is key for us to communicate on multiple platforms.”

The Canadian Identity Theft Support Centre is modeled on a similar U.S. organization based in San Diego, California. It is a non-profit organization with a wide range of expert knowledge and support from academia, the private and public sectors.

For more info on the Canadian Identity Theft Support Center – http://idtheftsupportcentre.org/

Canadian businesses missing important steps to protect personal information stored digitally, poll finds

Privacy Commissioner of Canada reminds businesses
that when using technology to safeguard personal information,
sometimes small steps can prevent a big loss.

OTTAWA, May 4, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadian businesses are storing more and more personal information digitally, but many are not using the technological tools or implementing the recommended practices to protect this information, a new survey has found.

In a telephone survey of 1,006 companies across Canada, commissioned by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and published today, companies are storing personal information on a variety of digital devices, such as desktop computers (55%), servers (47%) and portable devices (23%). Most (73%) are using some type of technological tool, such as passwords, encryption or firewalls, to prevent unauthorized access to the personal information stored on these devices.

However, the survey also suggested that many businesses may not be adequately using technology when it comes to protecting the personal information they store digitally.

For example, passwords are the most popular technological tool used by businesses to protect personal information (96%). However, of those using passwords, 39% do not have controls in place to ensure that those passwords are difficult to guess, and 27% never require employees to change passwords.

"Using passwords is like locking your front door. They can be a very simple and effective way to protect valuable personal information," says Commissioner Stoddart. "But simply setting a password is not enough to thwart today's savvy online criminals—passwords must to be complex and dynamic."

The poll, conducted in late November and early December 2011 by Phoenix Strategic Perspectives, also found that nearly one quarter of businesses are storing personal information on portable devices, such as laptops, USB sticks or tablets, which are more vulnerable to theft and loss. Nevertheless, almost half of those who do (48%) indicated that they did not use encryption to protect the information on these devices. Encryption refers to the use of a secret code as a key to scramble information to make it unreadable. Once the information is scrambled, only the same key can be used to unscramble the information and make it readable again.

"Encryption is one step better than locking your doors - it is like putting information into a safe - and it can really help limit the risks if a laptop is stolen or a USB key is misplaced," says Commissioner Stoddart. "Businesses that lose their customers' data, lose their customers' trust, so they need to take every precaution to ensure they safeguard personal information they hold."

The survey did find that many Canadian companies attribute considerable importance to protecting privacy (77%).

"I am encouraged to see that companies are beginning to realize the importance of building privacy into their business processes," said Commissioner Stoddart. "Smart businesses know that taking the time to build privacy in from the beginning is much easier than cleaning up a privacy breach down the road."

In fact, survey responses seem to suggest that companies are becoming more sensitive to the potential for data breaches. Only 40%, however, indicated that they were concerned about data breaches that might compromise the personal information of their customers and 31% indicated that they have guidelines in place for responding in the event of a breach.

Other highlights of the poll include:

...One third (32%) of businesses have staff that has had training on appropriate information practices and responsibilities under Canada's privacy laws.

...Almost half (48%) of businesses have procedures in place for dealing with complaints from customers who feel that their information has been handled improperly.

...Just over three in five businesses have a privacy policy.

...The majority of companies that have a privacy policy update it at least once a year (57%) and of those that do, 35% have notified their customers about the changes.

...Many companies (39%) view protecting privacy as a competitive advantage, with 24% seeing it as a significant advantage and 15% a moderate advantage.

The OPC commissioned the survey in order to better understand the extent to which businesses are familiar with privacy issues and requirements, and the types of privacy policies and practices they have in place. Similar surveys were conducted in 2010 and 2007.

The complete survey, which is considered to be accurate to within +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20, can be found on our website at www.priv.gc.ca.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman and guardian of privacy in Canada. The Commissioner enforces two federal laws for the protection of personal information: the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector; and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which applies to commercial activities in the Atlantic provinces, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Territories. Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia each has its own law covering the private sector. Even in these provinces, PIPEDA continues to apply to the federally regulated private sector and to personal information in interprovincial and international transactions.

Keep it private - your Facebook password should not be shared

Commissioner Cavoukian advises people to
protect their online social media profiles

TORONTO, May 3, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Spurred by numerous recent media reports of employers requesting Facebook passwords from job candidates, Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, launched a paper today to provide Ontarians with practical advice on how to protect their online privacy in the increasingly complex social media world.

Entitled "Reference Check: Is Your Boss Watching? The New World of Social Media: Privacy and Your Facebook Profile," the paper will be officially launched this evening in Toronto during a presentation by Commissioner Cavoukian at international law firm Baker & McKenzie.

"Passwords are meant to be kept private, and I want to be clear that the practice of employers requesting personal passwords from their current or potential future staff is fundamentally wrong," said Commissioner Cavoukian.

"Canada's human rights and privacy laws provide strong protections for job applicants when it comes to improper practices, such as employers requesting personal passwords. However, everyone using social media must remain vigilant when it comes to guarding their own personal information."

The paper offers true-to-life examples of improper practices by employers, provides context, and most importantly, offers practical tips to protect your privacy in today's constantly-evolving online world. Some of the issues covered in depth in the paper include:

...Think hard before you click;

...Review all the information about you that lives online;

...Remove potentially-damaging information & photos;

...Apply strong privacy controls to all of your personal information;

...Know your rights: employment, human rights & privacy laws;

...Build up a positive online social media profile.

"It is absolutely crucial to remember that anything you post online may stay there forever, in one form or another, so think carefully before you post," said Commissioner Cavoukian.

"With 86 per cent of Canadian Internet users having a Facebook profile, my sincere hope is that our paper will remind people to use social media sites wisely - posting information with their eyes wide open, and considering the potential risks to their employment - current and future."

"Job candidates should preserve their legally-protected right against what the courts have now labeled 'intrusion into seclusion'," agrees Mark Ellis of Baker & McKenzie. "As counsel to many of Canada's largest employers, we advise companies to respect the legal boundaries regarding investigation of any applicant. While an employer's review of outward-facing social media pages is proper and valuable due diligence, probing beyond the password-protected wall constitutes unwarranted invasion of privacy."

About the IPC

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by and reports to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, as well as the Personal Health Information Protection Act, which applies to both public and private sector health information custodians. A vital component of the Commissioner's mandate is to help educate the public about access and privacy issues.

Privacy Commissioner of Canada awards $500,000 to advance privacy research and awareness

Funding for 11 new independent research and awareness projects
which will explore emerging and evolving privacy issues

OTTAWA, May 2, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) today announced the recipients of its 2012-2013 Contributions Program, which will provide $500,000 this year for projects that explore emerging and evolving privacy issues of interest to Canadians.

This year's projects touch on all four policy priorities of the OPC: 1) identity integrity and privacy; 2) information technology and privacy; 3) genetic information and privacy; and 4) public safety and privacy. For example, there are projects that focus on privacy issues related to social networking, cybercrime, surveillance, cloud computing, smartphone applications and cell therapy research.

"Technologies are advancing at an astounding rate, and it's essential that we take time to both truly understand and reflect upon their impacts on privacy," says Commissioner Stoddart. "By supporting privacy research, my Office is encouraging the exploration of complex privacy issues as well as the development of information and tools to help Canadians make informed decisions about protecting their personal information."

The Office announced the 2012-13 recipients today at its Pathways to Privacy Research Symposium at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The Symposium is showcasing privacy-related research funded by OPC's Contribution Program and other organizations to stimulate discussion and enable others to use and apply the research in their fields of expertise or areas interest.

The OPC is supporting a total of 11 projects in 2012-13 under the Contributions Program. This year, there is an emphasis on making the research outcomes accessible, and researchers will be using a variety of approaches, such as workshops, forums, web sites and tools, or awareness materials, to share the results of their work. Some examples of the projects include: A study of the privacy challenges emerging from innovations in cell therapy research;

...An analysis of the scope of voluntary information sharing by private enterprises in law enforcement investigations into cybercrime;

...The development of a series of in-depth news reports and other informational tools for French radio and web sites that provide practical information about protecting personal information;

...An interactive mapping tool to help Canadians better understand cloud computing and its impact on their personal information;

...An investigation of smartphone applications and the risks to end-user privacy.

...A report on the positive and negative privacy implications of using information technology in situations involving domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking.

A full list of the 2012-13 Contributions Program recipients and their projects is available on our web site.

The OPC received 45 proposals for the 2012-2013 Contributions Program. Each proposal was evaluated by representatives of the OPC, as well as an external peer review panel of privacy experts in various fields.

"It was wonderful to have the opportunity to review the interesting, innovative, and creative applications to the Contributions Program," says Dr. Jacquelyn Burkell, Associate Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies at the University of Western Ontario. "The research they outlined addresses complex aspects of privacy in our digital environment and will produce results that have important implications for Canadians."

The OPC's Contribution Program was created in 2004 to support arm's length, non-profit research on privacy, further privacy policy development, and promote the protection of personal information in Canada. To date, the Program has allocated approximately $3 million to nearly 90 initiatives in Canada, and it is considered one of the foremost privacy research funding programs in the world.

The Privacy Commissioner of Canada is mandated by Parliament to act as an ombudsman and guardian of privacy in Canada. The Commissioner enforces two federal laws for the protection of personal information: the Privacy Act, which applies to the federal public sector; and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), which applies to commercial activities in the Atlantic provinces, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Territories. Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia each has its own law covering the private sector. Even in these provinces, PIPEDA continues to apply to the federally regulated private sector and to personal information in interprovincial and international transactions.

Keep Your Loot; Give Fraud the Boot!

North Wellington, Ontario - Keep Your Loot; Give Fraud the Boot!", April 23, 2012, Teen Elder Abuse Awareness Initiative

Grade 12 High school students partnered with older adults in North Wellington, Ontario to research and develop an awareness event in honour of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week. Working with local OPP, the Seniors Centre for Excellence and the Seniors at Risk Coordinator of Trellis Mental Health & Developmental Services, students and seniors surveyed older adults on elder abuse and frauds/scams and put together an awareness event for seniors.

Consumer Alert from FCA Canada - Be aware of the information you share

OTTAWA, April 17, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) has issued a Consumer Alert warning consumers to be very careful about giving out their personal and financial information over the telephone or online.

Scams designed to trick consumers into revealing their personal and financial information can be very sophisticated.

A current scam helps fraudsters get key missing details from unsuspecting consumers who think they are talking to a representative from their financial institution or credit card company.

Consumers can find ways to protect themselves from this scam, and tips on how to protect themselves against fraud, in the Fraud section of FCAC's website.

FCAC has also posted two Tip Clips on its YouTube channel to help consumers protect themselves against financial fraud.

About FCAC

With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.

You can reach them through the FCAC Consumer Services Centre by calling toll-free 1-866-461-3222 (TTY: 613-947-7771 or 1-866-914-6097) or by visiting their website: itpaystoknow.gc.ca.

Money is Lost and Reputations Are Harmed by Charity Fraud

Donors and Charities Can Protect One Another

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 29, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Opening your heart and your wallet to someone representing an unfamiliar charity or special interest can be hazardous to your wealth, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

As Fraud Prevention Month nears an end, some charitable fund-raising campaigns are getting into high gear. Warning signs of charity fraud include: high pressure or threatening telemarketers who want you to contribute immediately; a caller thanks you for a pledge you don't remember making; or, the charities have 'copycat names' which are designed to mislead or deceive their targets.

"By nature, Canadians are very generous. However, criminals will ruthlessly use whatever means necessary to prey upon your good intentions for their own selfish purposes." - Deputy Commissioner Scott Tod, OPP Investigations/Organized Crime Command.

In 2011, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 418 Canadian complaints of charity fraud. Of those, 48 people were victimized to the tune of more than $88-thousand. Police believe only five (5) per cent of victims actually report the crime.

Members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch suggest would-be donors consider the following tips on a year-round basis:

...Never give out your personal or financial information over the phone, or at the door. You may wish to make out a cheque payable to the charity. You can mail the cheque later.

...Call the charity. Find out if they know about the appeal and if it is authorized, and what percentage of your donation they will receive. You should never feel pressured into making a donation.

...If you receive a telephone call, ask for the information to be sent to you in writing. Ask how much of your gift will be used directly for the charity. Ask how much will go toward administrative costs. Legitimate charities will have no problem giving you this information.

...Ask if the charity is registered. Contact Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the charitable tax number of the charity. Question any discrepancies.

...At the beginning of each year, decide which charities to support - send your cheques directly to their head office, and feel good about giving. If approached more directly, you can then say that you have already given, and perhaps you will consider their appeal next year when you decide on the charities to support.

"Committing your hard-earned money to charity should be as safe and secure as you intend it to be. Your best defence against charity scams is knowing as much about the charitable organization as possible before you decide to donate." - Detective Inspector Paul Beesley, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch.

Responsible charities can do their part to ensure their representatives carry appropriate identification and have information would-be donors may need for each aspect of their operation, such as about how donations are used.

If you suspect you or someone you know have been approached by a fraudulent representative of a charity, contact your local police service or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

LEARN MORE

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

Glossary of Pitch Types from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Charity/Donation: Any false, deceptive or misleading solicitation for a donation to a charity, association, federation, or religious cause.

Extortion: Any person who unlawfully obtains money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.

OPP: Lower interest rates may equal more fraud victims

Don't trust offers that are too good to be true!

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 22, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are warning consumers not to blindly trust phone calls that claim to be able to negotiate significantly lower interest rates on your credit cards or loans.

Members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch say this type of "service scam" is becoming more prominent during the tough economic times being experienced by many Canadians. Consumers who get these interest rate reduction offers - sometimes through automatically-dialled "robo-calls" - should listen to them with extreme scepticism because many are scams. What the callers really want is the processing fee, which is usually paid by credit card. Some even follow-up with a fraudulent client acknowledgement or cancellation clause that reimburse the amount EXCLUDING a "retainer fee."

"Criminal telemarketers are relentless and will say anything to come between a vulnerable, unaware person and their money, regardless of the circumstances. Education, awareness and good, old-fashioned common sense are your best defence against becoming a victim." - Deputy Commissioner Scott TOD, OPP Investigations and Organized Crime

In 2011, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 982 Canadian complaints of criminals who offered lower interest rates either online or over the phone in return for some type of fee. Of those, 173 people were identified as victims who reported a loss of more than $133 thousand. Again, there are likely many more victims but they are reluctant to report the crime.

It's important to note, companies behind these calls can't do anything for you that you can't do for yourself - for free. Indeed, investigators found that people who pay for these services don't get the touted interest rate reductions, don't save the promised amounts, don't pay off their credit card debt three to five times faster, and struggle to get refunds.

If you're looking to reduce interest rates is to call your financial institution or the customer service phone number on the back of your credit card and negotiate. And, if you are tempted by the promises made in a rate reduction 'robo-call', hold off - and hang up.

"You have just as much clout with your credit card issuer as these companies say they do. All the criminals want is easy access to small amounts of money…a pattern they repeat thousands of times a week across the country. Save yourself and your money…simply hang up the phone!" - Detective Inspector Paul Beesley, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch

If you suspect you or someone you know has experienced an interest rate reduction scam or has been the victim of a service scam, contact your local police service or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

Glossary of Pitch Types from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Service Scam: Any false, deceptive, or misleading promotion of services or solicitation for services. These scams typically involve third parties that make offers for telecommunications, internet, financial, medical and energy services. This category of scams may also include, but is not limited to, offers such as extended warranties, insurance and sales services.

Unauthorized Charge: Any consumer's bank account or credit card that is charged for a service or merchandise (which may or may not have been performed and/or received) that was not authorized by the account holder. It may also occur when a consumer provides credit card or banking information to a company offering a free trial for a product. The company does not disclose the billing terms and/or conditions or does not have such details prominently displayed on their website which can result in repeated billing.

Emergency Scam Continues to Create Victims of Crime: OPP

Fraud Scheme often preys upon Vulnerable, Compassionate Seniors

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 15, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say the telephone and e-mail continue to be great tools for con artists to take seniors and vulnerable citizens for hundreds or even thousands of dollars at a time.

Members of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch say the "Emergency Scam" has been around for many years but it continues to wreak havoc in communities across Ontario. The fact that seniors are often too nice for their own good and are hesitant to say 'no' to someone on the phone make them easy targets for criminals.

In the usual "emergency" scenario, an elderly person receives a phone call or e-mail from a con-artist claiming to be one of his or her grandchildren, a friend of the family, or a former neighbour. The caller or e-mailer goes on to indicate that they are in some kind of trouble and 'need money immediately.' Typically, they claim to have been in a car accident, or are having trouble returning from a foreign country, or they need money for bail. The fraudster specifically asks that they do not want other relatives to 'know what has happened', saying something similar to "Don't tell Dad. He would be very upset with me if he found out. Please send the money ASAP. I'm scared." Typically, the victims don't verify the story until after the money has been sent through a wire transfer service or by giving access to personal banking or credit card information.

"Preying on the emotions of family members or friends by creating a falsely urgent or desperate situation contributes to an already long history of crime, because it has been successful. Increasing awareness of fraud is the first step toward decreasing its devastating impact." - Deputy Commissioner Scott TOD, OPP Investigations and Organized Crime

In 2011, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre - located in North Bay, Ontario - received 3,309 complaints of criminals using the " Emergency Scam" -- sometimes referred to as the " Grandparent Scam" -- in Canada. Of those, 462 people were identified as victims who reported a loss of more than $2.5 million. Compounding the problem, many more victims are reluctant to report the crime, either out of embarrassment or not knowing how.

To guard against becoming a victim, police advise you to first check with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information BEFORE providing money or credit card information. It is vitally important that the incident be reported every time it occurs, to allow police to investigate and charge the perpetrators.

"If you are suspicious about the caller or the circumstances of the request being made for your money, protect yourself…hang up the phone! And then report the crime!" - Acting Inspector Scott JAMES, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch

If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of an 'emergency' money transfer, contact your local police service or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

LEARN MORE

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre - The Emergency or Grandparent Scam

Glossary of Pitch Types from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Emergency: Any phone call or e-mail from someone claiming to be a friend or family member stating to be in some kind of trouble, usually being arrested, involved in a car accident or trapped in a foreign country and need money immediately for bail, medical fees, or a ticket home. This is sometimes referred to as the Grandparent Scam.

Extortion: Any person who unlawfully obtains money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion.

From electronic to paper: Fraud can happen anywhere

Tips for Preventing Identity Theft

OTTAWA, March 14, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - March is Fraud Prevention Month and Canada Post wants to remind customers that fraud, identity theft and other types of scams can happen anywhere - in your mailbox or recycle bin, via email, on the telephone, and more. Fraud-related offences are now thought to be as profitable as drug-related offences, estimated at between $10 and $30 billion annually in Canada by the RCMP's Commercial Crime Branch.

One of the fastest growing crimes in Canada is identity theft. It occurs when someone steals your name and other personal information with the intention of assuming your identity to gain access to your finances, make purchases and incur debts in your name, or commit other crimes.

Here are some tips to help protect your identity and your mail - digital or physical:

...Pick-up physical mail as soon as possible after delivery. Never leave it overnight in the mailbox.

...Do not discard mail with your personal information on it in the recycling box. Shred sensitive documents. If paperless, ensure you regularly empty your delete box.

...If you are planning a holiday, arrange for someone to pick up your mail or use Canada Post's Hold Mail service to ensure your mail is held safely while you're away.

...If you like to keep a copy of your electronic bills, sign up with epost and keep all your bills in one secure location with one username and password. Your bills can be stored for up to seven years. As well, epost users can store important personal information such as passwords, bank account information, medical history via the Vault service.

...Change your PIN information on your chip-enable credit cards regularly. Canada Post's PIN card services allow you to change the personal identification number (PIN) of chip credit cards from participating card issuers at more than 6,000 postal counters - for free.

...Beware if someone you are not expecting asks you for personal information. Identity thieves deploy various elaborate strategies to obtain this type of data.

...Remember, if you receive an offer that sounds too good to be true - it probably is!

...Report any suspicious activity to police.

Chip technology helping in the fight against Interac® debit card fraud

Interac debit card fraud skimming losses down 41 per cent year-over-year

TORONTO, March 6, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, Interac Association announced that Interac debit card fraud losses to financial institutions resulting from skimming declined to $70 million in 2011 from $119 million in 2010 and a high of $142 million in 2009. The number of cardholders reimbursed fell to 154,170 from 205,200 in 2010 and 238,000 in 2009. This represents 0.0229 per cent of domestic debit card volume and the lowest volume of fraud losses since data were recorded in 2003. Cardholders are protected from losses under the Interac Zero Liability Policy*.

"Our collective efforts and significant investments in the fight against debit card fraud, particularly the transition to chip technology, are producing tangible benefits," said Caroline Hubberstey, Head of External Affairs, Interac Association. "The transition to chip technology is all about making a safe system even more secure and that is what's happening. While significant progress is being made, the fight continues and no one is resting on their laurels."

Chip technology is both secure and smart. It gives the card the ability to store and process data securely. Unlike a magnetic stripe, this processing power makes it extremely difficult to copy and reproduce. This processing power is used, together with cryptography to allow the card and terminal to communicate with one another to carry out security checks to ensure the card is valid. Chip technology also enables advancements like Interac FlashTM, which is currently being rolled out.

Interac Flash, the contactless enhancement of Interac Debit, leverages EMV-based secure chip processing, instead of magnetic stripe data type processing. This protects Interac Flash enabled cards against skimming, counterfeiting, and transaction replay types of fraud, including electronic pick-pocketing where readers are used to capture information.

"Security is of paramount concern for us," emphasized Hubberstey. "By also choosing to leverage chip technology for Interac Flash enabled debit cards, we have taken strong steps to protect cardholders from tactics that criminals are using to capture data on contactless cards, such as electronic pick-pocketing."

Under Interac rules, card-not-present transactions and fallback to the magnetic stripe are not permitted. Further, given the structure of Interac Online, Internet shoppers can make secure online debit purchases directly from their bank accounts, without the need to provide any personal financial information, including card and account numbers, to online merchants. Stolen Interac debit cards and even PINs cannot be used to complete Internet transactions.

Interac chip debit cards and terminals are currently rolling out across Canada. By the end of this year (2012) all Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) and Interac debit cards will be converted to chip technology and by the end of 2015, all Point-of-Sale (POS) terminals. In many cases, conversion is ahead of schedule. As of the end of 2011, 90 per cent of Interac debit cards and 84 per cent of terminals (ABMs/POS terminals combined) had been converted.

In support of Fraud Prevention Month, Interac Association, a member of the Competition Bureau's Fraud Prevention Forum, has created an infographic that highlights the numbers above and also provides further insight to consumers around the security of Interac debit card transactions using chip technology. The organization will also host a Fraud Prevention Month Open House on their Facebook wall on Wednesday, March 14th at 7:00PM EST.

Follow Interac Association on Twitter at @INTERAC and on Facebook

Consumer alert: Debt reduction companies

Beware of "too good to be true offers"

OTTAWA, January 10, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) today issued a Consumer Alert on debt reduction companies. FCAC is warning Canadians: Be very cautious about companies that claim they can negotiate a deal with your creditors so that you will have to pay only part of your debt. This process is often called "debt reduction," "debt settlement," "debt relief" or "debt negotiation."

Consumers who are looking for information on dealing with their debt will find tips on getting out of debt on FCAC's website at fcac.gc.ca.

About FCAC

With educational materials and interactive tools, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) provides objective information about financial products and services to help Canadians increase their financial knowledge and confidence in managing their personal finances. FCAC informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with banks and federally regulated trust, loan and insurance companies. FCAC also makes sure that federally regulated financial institutions, payment card network operators and external complaints bodies comply with legislation and industry commitments intended to protect consumers.

You can reach them through the FCAC Consumer Services Centre by calling toll-free 1-866-461-3222 (TTY: 613-947-7771 or 1-866-914-6097) or by visiting their website: fcac.gc.ca.

Pocket Dials/Unintentional 9-1-1 Calls Putting Public at Risk, Impacting Police Resources

Police Say Unintentional Calls from Mobile Devices a Growing Problem in Ontario

TORONTO, January 9, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Police services across Ontario are seeing an increase in pocket dialed and unintentional 9-1-1 calls, which represent a serious threat to public safety and negatively impact police resources according to the Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board (OAB) and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).

"With more and more people using mobile devices, our police services are reporting an increase in unintentional 9-1-1 calls and so-called pocket dials," said Inspector Paulo Da Silva of York Regional Police. "When unintentionally dialed calls are made to 9-1-1 call centres, they become a public safety issue and are a drain on law enforcement resources."

Pocket dials happen when a keypad on a mobile device carried in a pocket, purse, backpack, etc. is accidentally pressed. Unintentional 9-1-1 calls are generated from a mobile device and are not intended as emergency calls.

Unintentional 9-1-1 calls tie up phone lines that deliver 9-1-1 calls to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), which handle 9-1-1 calls. This negatively impacts a PSAP's ability to respond to real emergencies.

The Ontario 9-1-1 Advisory Board brings together police personnel to act as advocates for the 9-1-1 system in the Province of Ontario. OAB is partnering with the OACP to raise public awareness of the unintentional/pocket dialed calls.

The OAB and OACP have found that hundreds of unintentional/pocket dialed 9-1-1 calls are being received daily by police services across Ontario from cell phones and other devices where no emergency exists. For example:

...The Toronto Police Service received 1,227,791 calls to 9-1-1 in 2011. 1 in 5 calls were not valid emergencies. Pocket dials accounted for 107,748, or half of the false calls; misdialed calls to 9-1-1 (116,770) accounted for the remainder.

...York Regional Police received 97,886 unintentional 9-1-1 calls from wireless devices in 2011, accounting for 37.33% of all 9-1-1 calls received.

...London Police Service received 6,622 pocket dials from August to November, 2011, averaging 11.24% of total 9-1-1 calls.

...Peel Regional Police received 80,724 unintentional 9-1-1 calls from wireless devices between June 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2011, accounting for 33% of the 9-1-1 calls received.

For every unintentional/pocket 9-1-1 call received, a 9-1-1 emergency telecommunicator must determine whether an emergency exists. Every second counts when someone is waiting for an emergency communicator to pick up a 9-1-1 call and dispatch police, emergency medical services, or fire.

"Citizens have the power to stop unintentional 9-1-1 calls from their mobile devices. It could be as simple as locking a key pad or putting the device in stand-by mode," said Chief Matt Torigian, President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. "Such actions do not impact a user's ability to receive a phone call, but may significantly reduce the chance of a pocket dial. To further reduce the pocket dial risk, users should not program 9-1-1 into their devices and should prevent small children from playing with such devices."

Someone who places an unintentional 9-1-1 call should stay on the line. Every 9-1-1 call is taken seriously. When a 9-1-1 caller doesn't respond, that could be a sign of trouble - a possibility an emergency responder can't ignore. Users are urged to let the emergency operator know it was a pocket dial/unintentional call. This will eliminate the need for the emergency operator to call back to determine if there is a legitimate emergency, saving precious seconds and allowing them to move on to the next emergency call.

Citizens can prevent pocket dials or unintentional 9-1-1 calls by:

...Locking keypads using the keypad lock feature. Keypad locks, some of which can be programmed to activate automatically, prevent a mobile device from responding to keystrokes until the user unlocks the keypad using a short combination of key presses.

...Turn off the 9-1-1 auto-dial feature, if your mobile device has one. To determine whether a device has this feature and how to turn it off, check the user manual or the manufacturer's website, or call the service provider.

...Refrain from programming a wireless device to speed or automatically dial 9-1-1.