Canadians getting more complacent about fraud, missing the importance of checking credit reports

TORONTO, March 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Equifax Canada is urging Canadians to remain vigilant in the fight against fraud and identity theft. The warning follows a recent consumer survey conducted by Equifax, which indicates a new trend that some people are feeling less vulnerable to this type of crime and don’t understand the importance of checking credit reports to help detect fraud.

For instance, only 29 per cent of survey respondents checked their credit report as a means to help protect their personal data over the last 12 months and only 38 per cent indicated they would report fraud to a credit bureau. Anyone concerned about fraud and identity theft should place an identity alert or fraud warning on their credit file, which may help to prevent future fraudulent use of their identity.

While most (92 per cent) agreed that fraud and identity theft is a serious issue, the new survey data also suggests Canadians are feeling less vulnerable to fraudsters online, on-the-go, at-home and in-store. In the same survey conducted by Equifax in 2017 and 2019, 80 per cent of survey respondents said they felt vulnerable to online fraud versus only 72 per cent in 2020. For people on-the-go (e.g. using public WiFi, ATMs, etc.), the percentage of those feeling vulnerable lowered to 44 per cent today versus from 60 per cent in 2017 and 59 per cent in 2019. At-home, only 27 per cent of survey respondents said they felt vulnerable today versus 37 per cent in 2019 and 33 per cent in 2017. In-store revealed a similar result with 25 per cent saying they felt vulnerable today compared to 38 per cent in 2019 and 2017.

“Hackers, fraudsters and identity thieves are always on the hunt to get your personal information,” said Julie Kuzmic, Director of Consumer Advocacy, Equifax Canada. “We can’t be complacent about this and one of the best ways to spot identity theft is by checking credit reports for unrecognized activities, which may provide an indication that someone has been applying for credit in your name or fraudulently accessing your accounts. I’m particularly concerned for younger adults who may be misguided in some of their beliefs and actions surrounding identity theft.”

Millennials at Risk of Identity Theft

More education may be needed in helping younger adults better understand the risks of fraud and
identity theft as the survey results revealed significant differences based on age:

Gender Differences & Identity Theft

The survey also identified significant differences between men and women as it relates to some of their concerns and actions about identity theft:

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), the central agency tracking all types of fraud, estimates the cost of mass marketing fraud (i.e. fraud by phone, the Internet, mass mailings, e-mail, and personal contact) to be approaching $130 million reported by consumers annually, which represents approximately a 30 per cent increase from 2017.

“More and more fraudsters are not only seeking access to victims’ hard earned money but also their personal information,” said Jeff Thomson, a senior RCMP intelligence analyst with the CAFC. “While data breaches and phishing emails still remain the top reported attack methods, Canadians also need to remain diligent to not provide personal or financial information to unknown callers.”

Equifax Canada encourages all consumers to check their credit reports at a minimum annually. More tips on ways to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft can be found on the company’s website at: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/personal/education/identity/. Consumers concerned about fraud and identity theft can also place a fraud warning or identity alert on their Equifax credit reports by calling: 1-800-465-7166.

Equifax surveyed 1,515 Canadians ages 18-65, Jan. 31 to Feb. 3. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.

About Equifax
Equifax is a global information solutions company that uses unique data, innovative analytics, technology and industry expertise to power organizations and individuals around the world by transforming knowledge into insights that help make more informed business and personal decisions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It is a member of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. Equifax employs approximately 11,000 employees worldwide. For more information on our Canadian affiliate, visit Equifax.ca and follow the company’s news on LinkedIn.

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