Search results
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information without your knowledge or consent to commit a crime, such as fraud, theft or forgery. What is personal information? Any factual or subjective information recorded or not, about an identifiable individual is personal information.
Identity theft includes everything from cheque forgery and the use of stolen credit cards to sophisticated scams in which an impostor adopts another person’s identity to gain access to their assets. Identity fraud and identity theft are criminal offences in Canada.
402.2 (1) Every person commits an offence who obtains or possesses another person’s identity information with intent to use it to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence.
- Identity Theft
- Identity Fraud
- Debit and Credit Card Fraud
- Phishing
- Advance Fee Fraud
- Prize Pitch
- Cash Transfer
- Telemarketing Fraud
- Online Shopping Fraud
- Online Auction Fraud
Identity theft refers to the use of someone else's personal information (name, mother’s maiden name, social insurance number, etc.) to commit crimes (RCMP – Internet Theft). In January 8, 2010, it became illegal to possess or use another person's identity information with the purpose of committing a crime or to use that information in a deceptive o...
Identity fraud is the act of using the identity of another person (living or dead) or inventing a fake identity to commit fraud, (for example: applying for a credit card in the name of someone who is deceased). The individual committing the fraud looks for personal information such as a full name, date of birth, social insurance number, full addres...
Debit card fraud happens when a thief “skims" or swipes the information from the strip on the back of your card, or from the chip to create a duplicate of your card. This is done by using a “skimming” machine which scans the back of a debit/credit card and captures the important features of your bank card (bank number, account number, etc.) without...
Phishing is a term used for e-mails, text messages and websites that are fabricated by criminals to look like they come from a trusted source. They are used to collect personal, financial and sensitive information. It’s also known as brand spoofing. The content of a phishing e-mail or text message is intended to trigger a quick reaction from you. I...
Some companies will use mass marketing scams to provide loans to people. They often target people who have bad credit rating and wouldn’t qualify for a loan elsewhere, using phrases such as “Have a bad credit history?” or “Don’t have a credit rating?” Once a user is hooked, they will initiate the fraud process by requesting a lump sum of money upfr...
A prize pitch scam is a mass marketing scam where victims will receive notification by mail, phone, or e-mail indicating that they have won a prize. However, in order to collect the prize the victim is required to pay fees or taxes in advance. Once the victim has provided the money, they may never hear from the organization again or they will recei...
Scammers will often tell a sob story, which consists of a heartbreaking event, followed by their need for emergency funding at which point they will ask for a small donation from you often via email transfer. To complete this transaction they will require your bank name, address, telephone number, name of beneficiary and your account numbers. The s...
Telemarketing fraud can happen in several ways. One common way is when a telemarketer calls your number and pretends to be offering you an exclusive deal and once you are interested, they will ask for your credit card information. They may also request that you make a charitable donation for disaster relief efforts, sometimes by claiming they are a...
People can buy or sell almost anything over the Internet. Unfortunately, criminals can use the anonymity of the Internet to steal from unsuspecting buyers and sellers. For example, scammers may sell a product – often at a very cheap price – just so they can steal your payment card or personal information. They may also take your money and send you ...
Online auction sites are virtual flea markets that present new or used items that you can bid on. Online auction scams can include the false representation of an item, non-delivery of goods and services, as well as non-payment for goods delivered. Online auctions can be rigged by scammers, who will often use “dummy bidders.” This is seen when you a...
Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone’s identifying information in order to impersonate them and commit various crimes in that person’s name.
Jun 18, 2024 · Identity theft and identity fraud are both offences covered under s. 402.2 and s. 403 of the Criminal Code. Identity theft, under s. 402.2, is when a person possesses another person’s identity information, with the intent of using that identity information in order to commit an indictable offence.
People also ask
What is identity theft & identity fraud?
What is identity theft under s 402.2?
What does identity theft mean?
Who commits a crime if he possesses a person's identity information?
What information qualifies as identity theft?
Are identity fraud and identity theft criminal offences in Canada?
Identity theft—the unauthorized use of your information by third parties—involves the collection and use of personal information such as your name, date of birth, address, social insurance number (SIN), and other personal details for criminal purposes.
