Greetings!
 

Have you ever had your wallet or purse stolen or know of someone who has?  One of our staff's mom did, another staff member's mother-in-law did, as well as an acquaintance of ours.  What a terrible feeling...to think that someone could steal your money and possibly your identity.   Heart of the Matter's staff recently attended an Identity Theft workshop and here are some tips that we learned and recommend in order to protect yourself:

 What to do if your wallet/purse is stolen or lost:

• Contact your Bank or Financial Institution:  Report your missing bank and/or credit cards.
• Contact Your Local Police:  Refer to your phone book for the local number.  Do not dial 911.
• Cancel Your Additional Credit Cards:   Immediately notify customer service or credit department of your retail or other credit card companies.
• Replace Your Driver's Licence:  In many cases, a replacement may be issued on the spot.  You must provide your Birth Certificate and identification with your signature (i.e. health card, credit card...good to keep some at home, I guess).
• Replace Your Health Card:  Two or more pieces of identification are required (driver's licence and birth certificate, credit card) 

To avoid having your identity stolen and  to be more prepared so that it is less of a headache:

• Next time you order cheques, have only your initials (instead of your first name)--so if they are stolen, they will not know if you sign with just your initials or your full name.
• Never keep a birth certificate in your wallet.  It is the hardest ID to replace.
• Also do not keep your social insurance number in your wallet as this is your second most important piece of identity you have and criminals will have "hit the jackpot" if found.
• Photocopy the contents of your wallet.  Copy both sides of every license and all credit cards.  You will know what was in your wallet, all the account numbers and toll free numbers to call to cancel.  Keep these copies in a safe place in your home.
• Shred or burn any documentation with your personal information on it (examples:  applications you get in the mail, credit card receipts, pay stubs, bank statements, anything with your SIN (social insurance number) on it.
• Obtain your credit report at least once a year from the credit bureau (www.equifax.ca or www.tuc.ca).
• Take your name off mailing lists.

Remember...It's always important to be proactive. 

Did you know...Heart of the Matter has great creative ideas for organizing recipes, photos & family mementos?  To learn more check out our services in greater detail 

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