People may try to steal your identity through online phishing, telephone scams and email spam, but mainly itB次元官网网址檚 done the old fashioned way B次元官网网址� by rooting through your garbage.
People often toss out utility bills and credit card statements into recycling or the trash, and leave it outside for pickup. Even personal documents stored together in an unsecured location in a home, or mail left in the mailbox are a risk.
To highlight the growing problem of identity theft and the multitude of phone, email and Internet-based scams, the Better Business Bureau of Vancouver Island is hosting its second B次元官网网址淪hred It! Secure Your ID DayB次元官网网址� event on Friday.
In the parking lot at Tillicum Centre, the BBB and Access Records and Media Management will be on hand with a mobile shredder machine, complete with an external monitor to view the shredding drama. People can destroy up to five boxes of paper documents for free.
B次元官网网址淧art of the Better Business Bureau mandate is to educate people on not being victims, so people donB次元官网网址檛 have their IDs stolen or fall victim to scams,B次元官网网址� said Rosalind Scott, president of the BBB Vancouver Island.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre stats show 17,000 people reported falling victim to ID theft in 2011 and who lost a combined $13 million. Canadians lost $64 million last year in what police call B次元官网网址渕ass marketing fraudsB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� a catchall for telemarketing scams, email scams, Internet fraud and ID fraud.
During its inaugural event last year, Access Records destroyed more than 400 boxes of papers, about 10,000 pounds worth. The Rotary Club of Victoria will be on hand to take donations to charity, and Fountain Tire has donated a barbecue truck.
The BBB will also have an identity theft expert on hand to dole out helpful advice on avoiding scams and fraud. The act of shredding documents is no coincidence B次元官网网址� Scott said the No. 1 trap to avoid is recycling un-shredded personal papers.
B次元官网网址淭he biggest trick is donB次元官网网址檛 leave personal documents lying around. Everybody gets credit card and bank statements in the mail and they can get stolen in recycling,B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淲e call it dumpster diving. The prime source for scammers is going through peoplesB次元官网网址� garbage. TheyB次元官网网址檙e not in there rooting for food.B次元官网网址�
Shred It is on the leading edge of events across North America that will highlight ID theft and scams. Scott said she will speak to any group on Vancouver Island for free regarding frequent and common scams and techniques to avoid ID theft.
On top of that, the BBB-VI is helping launch B次元官网网址淪cam Watch,B次元官网网址� a Shaw TV program that is scheduled to air next month. Scott and Victoria police commercial crimes officers will highlight common scams and frauds each week.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately thereB次元官网网址檚 no lack of scams and frauds,B次元官网网址� she said.
Police across the region receive no end of reports of attempted and successful frauds and scams, especially with senior citizens. Canadians in their 60s are the highest targeted demographic for frauds.
Common scams include elderly people getting calls from people claiming to be a grandchild or nephew or niece who request money to get out of a jam (called the B次元官网网址渆mergency scamB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址済randparent scamB次元官网网址�). Scammers hack email accounts and spam friends with fraudulent requests for money due to supposed trouble while travelling overseas.
Some people are still tempted by Nigerian email scams, inheritance scams, lottery and prize scams or foreign money order scams. Fraudulent B次元官网网址淢icrosoftB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淎ppleB次元官网网址� technicians have gained access to people's computers through unsolicited phone calls.
B次元官网网址淪o many red flags come up, but unfortunately we live in tough financial times, where people get carried away trying to get something for nothing.B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淧eople need to stop and think: B次元官网网址楧oes this make sense?B次元官网网址� If youB次元官网网址檙e told you are a lottery winner, did you actually buy a ticket? Does it make sense that youB次元官网网址檇 get an inheritance from somebody youB次元官网网址檝e never met from a country youB次元官网网址檝e never set foot in?B次元官网网址�
Shred It! is Friday, Oct. 19 at the Tillicum Centre outside Old Navy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. People can shred up to five boxes of papers for free. For more see .
Check out the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at for information on the latest scams.
editor@saanichnews.com
