Famous Former Con Man Tells You How To Protect Your I.D.

It takes one to know one.    And when it comes to cons,no one knows the delicate and devastating ins and outs of identity theft as well as Frank Abagnale.

The world famous former con-man, who was the main character in the Steven Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can”, cashed in more than $2.5 million in forged cheques in more than 25 countries and also impersonated a pilot, an attorney, a college professor, and a pediatrician.   Remarkably, he did it all by the time he was 21.   But now Abagnale works on the right side of the law, teaching others how to avoid becoming victims of the scams he used to gain international infamy.  

“Stealing someone’s identity is as simple as counting to one, two, three,” Abagnale said Tuesday in Toronto where he’s teaching a seminar on how to avoid identity theft.    It’s a timely lesson to learn considering 20% of Canadians are affected by the crime.

Abagnale notes that when he was in his criminal prime, it took at least 30 days to get all the paperwork necessary to assume a phony identity. Now it takes about 30 minutes.

“You can get a credit card in their name and get a mortgage in their name and get a job in their name. You can buy a car in their name. You can get a signature loan in their name. It is unlimited. It is really only up to one’s imagination.”

With personal information readily available at your fingertips, Frank is now teaching people how to properly destroy documents and monitor their credit history to protect their identity.

“But now they’re starting to get into your online banking account because they have your identity and they rob your bank blind. They’re stealing into your personal assets by getting your personal information, so in the end it can cost you a great deal of money.”

To see unedited video of Abagnale offering more tips, click here.


Other I.D. Theft Prevention Tips

General Advice

-Before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared.

-Pay attention to your billing cycles.  Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. 

-Guard your mail.  Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office.  Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.  Ensure mail is forwarded or re-routed if you move or change your mailing address.

-Utilize passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts.  Avoid using easily available information like your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SIN or your phone number.
 
-Minimize the identification information and  number of cards you carry.

-Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or know whom you’re dealing with.

-Keep items with personal information in a safe place.  An identity thief will pick through your garbage or recycling bins. Be sure to tear or shred receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements and credit offers you get in the mail.

-Give your SIN only when absolutely necessary.  Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.
  
-Don’t carry your SIN card; leave it in a secure place.

Keeping Your PIN Safe

-Never lend your card to anyone.

-Protect your PIN when you’re at a bank machine and never write it down! Memorize it.

-When you’re picking a PIN, don’t go for the obvious choice such as your birthday, or digits in your phone number.

-Never tell anyone your PIN. No one from a financial institution, police service or business should ask you for it.

-When you’re punching in your PIN, use your hand or body to shield the keypad to make sure no one sees the numbers.

-Only conduct transactions at ABMs you feel comfortable at. If you notice something strange on the machine, or don’t feel comfortable, wait and go somewhere else to take out money.

-When you’ve completed your transaction, don’t forget to take your record slip – and your card.

Using Your Credit Card Online

-Only buy from reputable sites

-Before you buy, check the lower left hand corner of the browser for a padlock or key icon — it should appear on any screen that sends personal or credit card information.

-Print out the confirmation of the transaction and keep it as a receipt.

-Read the privacy and security statements on the site before you hand over your information.

-Never send your credit card number in an email.

Credit Card Security Tips

-Once a card has expired, destroy it immediately.

-Keep your receipts and carbon copies until your statement arrives so you can compare the transactions.

-Sign your replacement card and activate it as soon as you receive it.

-Any receipts or statements that may have your account number on them should be shredded before you throw them out. And make sure you check it thoroughly.

-Never give your account number out to anyone you don’t know over the phone, and be very wary of people claiming you’ve won a prize.

-Make a list of all of your credit cards, their expiry dates, and company contact information in case they’re stolen.

-Never give out personal information such as your mother’s maiden name, your PIN, or account numbers to businesses. The only time merchants should ask for your address or phone number is if they need to ship something to you.

-Don’t use your credit card as personal identification

-Report lost or stolen cards as soon as possible.

If you’re a victim of fraud or identity theft

First contact your bank
Second, report the matter to police
Third, contact the appropriate organizations listed below:

PhoneBusters National Call Centre (PNCC)

Ontario Provincial Police Anti-Rackets 1-888-495-8501 

Credit Reporting Agencies

Place fraud alerts on your credit reports by contacting the credit bureaus that operate in Canada.

Equifax Canada
 
Report fraud: 1-800-465-7166

Trans Union Canada
 
Report fraud: 1-877-525-3823

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today