The OPP says fraud awareness is key to prevention. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), there were 6,275 complaints of identity theft in Canada last year and of those complaints, 4,898 victims were identified and their combined financial losses exceeded $11-million. Police say you have to keep a close eye on your driver’s licence, health card, S.I.N. card and birth certificate. Police add that Identity theft can also harm future you credit rating and future job offers. If you would like to report identity theft, you can contact your local police detachment or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
