{"id":60840,"date":"2019-04-11T16:43:44","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T16:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/?p=60840"},"modified":"2021-05-26T15:12:36","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T19:12:36","slug":"identity-theft-free-credit-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ugly Truth About Identity Theft &#8211; Free Credit Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Identity theft is becoming <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca\/scams-fraudes\/id-theft-vol-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">more and more common<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbc-insurance.ca\/advices-benefits\/identify-theft-statistics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">most recent statistics<\/a>, 20,611 Canadian fell victim to it, an increase of nearly 20% in a couple years. For the majority of victims, financial losses from identity theft is less than $100, but around 6% suffered losses of over $5,000. <\/p>\n<p>Anyone can fall prey to it, and there are some good ways to prevent identity theft from ruining your credit score, and losing money.<\/p>\n<p>I will tell you my personal identity theft story below, but there&#8217;s one thing you should do now wether you have been or not an identity theft victim : <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\"><a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">Start monitoring your credit files!<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 30px;\">\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Discover What&#039;s Inside<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#The_Ugly_Truth_About_Identity_Theft\" >The Ugly Truth About Identity Theft<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#1_3_Personal_Identity_Theft_Story_Stories\" >1 3 Personal Identity Theft Story Stories<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Identity_Theft_Story_1_My_business_partner\" >Identity Theft Story #1 : My business partner<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Identity_Theft_Story_2_Then_it_was_my_turn\" >Identity Theft Story #2 : Then it was my turn<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Identity_Theft_Story_3_My_friend_got_hit_again\" >Identity Theft Story #3 : My friend got hit again<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#What_is_Identity_Theft\" >What is Identity Theft<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Im_a_victim_what_do_I_do_now\" >I&#8217;m a victim, what do I do now?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#First_Steps_to_Recover_from_Identity_Theft\" >First Steps to Recover from Identity Theft<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Credit_Bureaus_in_Canada\" >Credit Bureaus in Canada<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#What_to_look_for_in_my_credit_report\" >What to look for in my credit report?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Reviewing_your_Credit_Report\" >Reviewing your Credit Report<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Add_a_fraud_alert_to_your_credit_file\" >Add a fraud alert to your credit file<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Fraud_Alerts\" >Fraud Alerts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Notify_the_bureaus_of_unknown_inquiries\" >Notify the bureaus of unknown inquiries<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Hard_inquiries_affect_your_credit_score\" >Hard inquiries affect your credit score<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Start_monitoring_your_credit_file_now\" >Start monitoring your credit file now<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Free_Credit_Report_from_Borrowell_Canada_%E2%80%93_Review_Getting_a_free_credit_report_instantly_in_Canada_is_much_easier_than_before_With_Borrowell_you_can_view_your_free_credit_score_and_report_in_less_than_3_minutes_You_can_monitor_changes_to_your_file_monthly_and_learn_how_to_improve_your_credit_score_Is_Borrowell_safe\" >Free Credit Report from Borrowell Canada &#8211; Review\nGetting a free credit report instantly in Canada is much easier than before. With Borrowell, you can view your free credit score and report in less than 3 minutes. You can monitor changes to your file monthly and learn how to improve your credit score.\n\nIs Borrowell safe?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Borrowell_Canada_Customer_Reviews_%E2%80%93_Social_Proof\" >Borrowell Canada Customer Reviews &#8211; Social Proof<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#How_does_Borrowell_makes_money\" >How does Borrowell makes money?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Equifax_Credit_Score\" >Equifax Credit Score<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Free_TransUnion_Credit_Report_from_Credit_Karma_Credit_Karma_is_a_real_website_with_a_solid_reputation_They_have_been_providing_free_credit_reports_in_the_USA_since_2007_and_recently_expanded_to_Canada_including_Quebec_Credit_Karma_recently_launched_the_Canadian_version_of_its_free_credit_report_Credit_Karma_provides_the_TransUnion_credit_report_for_FREE_Using_both_Borrowell_and_Credit_Karma_you_get_the_full_picture_of_your_credit_file_for_FREE_I_havent_succeeded_in_activating_my_free_Credit_Karma_report_and_have_been_blocked_for_1_month_security_measures_This_could_be_because_my_credit_file_has_an_active_fraud_alert_because_I_did_not_provide_my_Social_Security_Number_or_because_I_messed_up_answering_some_of_the_security_questions_Now_its_too_late_for_me_to_try_again_Ill_try_again_when_they_allow_me_in_30_days_You_can_try_it_yourself_and_let_us_know_how_it_goes_Ultimate_Identity_Theft_Checklists_Always_protect_your_personal_information_and_keep_the_following_tips_in_mind_to_prevent_or_lower_your_risks_of_identity_theft_Prevent_Identity_Theft_%F0%9F%94%90\" >Free TransUnion Credit Report from Credit Karma\nCredit Karma is a real website with a solid reputation.  They have been providing free credit reports in the USA since 2007 and recently expanded to Canada (including Qu\u00e9bec). \nCredit Karma recently launched the Canadian version of its free credit report.  Credit Karma provides the TransUnion credit report for FREE.  Using both Borrowell and Credit Karma you get the full picture of your credit file for FREE.\n\nI haven&#8217;t succeeded in activating my free Credit Karma report and have been blocked for 1 month (security measures). This could be because my credit file has an active fraud alert, because I did not provide my Social Security Number or because I messed up answering some of the security questions.  \nNow it&#8217;s too late for me to try again, I&#8217;ll try again when they allow me in 30 days.  You can try it yourself and let us know how it goes.\nUltimate Identity Theft Checklists\nAlways protect your personal information and keep the following tips in mind to prevent or lower your risks of identity theft:\n\nPrevent Identity Theft &#x1f510;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Recover_from_Identity_Theft_%E2%9A%A0%EF%B8%8F\" >Recover from Identity Theft &#x26a0;&#xfe0f;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#More_resources_for_Identity_Theft_victims\" >More resources for Identity Theft victims<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Canadian_Anti-Fraud_Center\" >Canadian Anti-Fraud Center<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/identity-theft-free-credit-report\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Ugly_Truth_About_Identity_Theft\"><\/span>The Ugly Truth About Identity Theft<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#3-personal-identity-theft-stories\">3 Personal Identity Theft Stories<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-identity-theft\">What is Identity Theft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#victim-what-do-I-do-now\">I&#8217;m a victim, what do I do now?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#first-steps-to-recover-from-id-theft\">First steps to recover from Identity Theft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#credit-bureaux-in-canada\">Credit Bureaus in Canada<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-to-look-for-in-credit-report\">What to look for in my credit report<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#add-a-fraud-alert\">Add a fraud alert to your credit file<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#notify-the-bureaus\">Notify the bureaus of unknown inquiries<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#hard-inquiries-affect-your-score\">Hard inquiries affect your credit score<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">Start monitoring your credit file now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\">Free Credit Report from Borrowell &#8211; Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#free-transunion-credit-report-creditkarma\">Free TransUnion Credit Report from Credit Karma<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ultimate-identity-theft-checklists\">Ultimate Identity Theft Checklists<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prevent-identity-theft\">Prevent Identity Theft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#recover-from-identity-theft\">Recover from Identity Theft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#more-resources\">More resources for Identity Theft victims<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr style=\"color: #99d6d9; background-color: #99d6d9; border-top: 1px solid #99d6d9;\">\n<p style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>Affiliate Disclaimer<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 Even though we receive referral fees from companies mentioned on this website, we try to make our reviews unbiased and backed by our own experience and social proof. If you sign up for Borrowell using our <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Borrowell\">affiliate link<\/a> we may earn a commission. We will use most of the revenues to make <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stockchase<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wealthica<\/a> better. Your support helps and we genuinely appreciate it. If you don\u2019t want to use it, here\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/borrowell.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">non-affiliate link<\/a> to Borrowell. Either way we truly believe they\u2019re a great free credit report alternative and that you\u2019ll be happy with the service they provide. Do your research on Google, Reddit and Facebook groups and you\u2019ll find most people <a title=\"Is Borrowell legit? (Reddit Link)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/PersonalFinanceCanada\/comments\/580yl6\/is_the_borrowell_free_credit_score_legit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">say the same<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"3-personal-identity-theft-stories\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_3_Personal_Identity_Theft_Story_Stories\"><\/span><strike>1<\/strike> 3 Personal Identity Theft <strike>Story<\/strike> Stories<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identity_Theft_Story_1_My_business_partner\"><\/span>Identity Theft Story #1 : My business partner <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>My business partner got his identity stolen a few years ago. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Identity-Theft-Story.png\" alt=\"Identity Theft Story\" title=\"Identity Theft Story.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It was a huge mess. <\/p>\n<p>Someone had opened a Future Shop credit card under his name and had loaded up $6000 on it. <\/p>\n<p>They had also opened a Virgin Mobile account that had a balance of $3200! At that time, my friend started to have collection agencies coming after him, trying to collect the $9200 he hadn\u2019t spent.<\/p>\n<p>He had to file a police report, get a new driver&#8217;s license, put a freeze on his credit report, get his name cleared with Virgin Mobile and Futureshop and take many other steps to recover from the identity theft. <\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identity_Theft_Story_2_Then_it_was_my_turn\"><\/span>Identity Theft Story #2 : Then it was my turn<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Now last July, it was my turn. I was lucky!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/identity-theft-not-me.png\" alt=\"Identity theft not me\" title=\"identity-theft-not-me.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As much as I hate Bell (I had a bunch of invoice problems with them and always hated their customer service. The fact they get you onboard with discounts that expire and you end up with a big bill increase over time is crazy), I now owe them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At the end of July, I got a call from Bell Mobility asking me if I had requested to open a new mobile account. I hadn\u2019t. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how I learned someone was trying to steal my identity.<\/p>\n<p>Someone at Bell was brilliant enough to flag a new account request under my name as suspicious because I already had a Bell account in the past and the new request was using a different phone number. So, they called the number they had on file to validate if that was me trying to open a new account. It was not me!<\/p>\n<p>I was lucky the fraudster chose Bell first. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/identity-theft-rogers-inquiry.png\" alt=\"Identity theft rogers inquiry\" title=\"identity-theft-rogers-inquiry.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Because Bell notified me, I was able to quickly set-up <a href=\"#add-a-fraud-alert\">fraud alerts<\/a>, <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">start monitoring<\/a> and freeze my credit file. This allowed me to block the subsequent attempt at opening a Scotiabank account and a Rogers cell phone account with my identity.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Monitoring-My-Credit-File.png\" alt=\"Identitiy theft monitoring my credit file\" title=\"Monitoring My Credit File.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\">Damn. Why wasn\u2019t I already <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">monitoring my credit file<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>My friend and I are both very careful with our private informations.  Rarely do we send our Driver&#8217;s License information or Social Security Number over the Internet.  But sometimes you don&#8217;t have a choice for account verification. I am quite sure I was hit because I sent my driver&#8217;s license to the wrong company (now bankrupt Canadian cryptocurrency exchange <a href=\"https:\/\/decryptmedia.com\/5853\/complete-story-quadrigacx-190-million\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">QuadrigaCX<\/a> &#8211; The CEO probably faked his death).<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\">We both failed at <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">monitoring our credit file<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re Canadian, it&#8217;s quite easy to monitor your credit file as there are only two bureau : <a href=\"#credit-bureaux-in-canada\">Equifax and TransUnion<\/a>.  And there are online options to <a href=\"#free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\">get your credit report for FREE<\/a>. We&#8217;ll outline all the steps later in this article.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identity_Theft_Story_3_My_friend_got_hit_again\"><\/span>Identity Theft Story #3 : My friend got hit again <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Remember my friend that got his identity stolen at the beginning of this post? Well, being an identity theft victim one time wasn&#8217;t enough, he did not have his Equifax and Trans-Union subscriptions active, neither was he subscribed to his <a href=\"#free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\">monthly free credit reports<\/a>, and <strong>GOT HIT AGAIN<\/strong> a few years later at the same time I was.<\/p>\n<p>That was Identity Theft #2 for him.<\/p>\n<p>While I was able to detect the theft immediately in July, he only detected it in December. The end result? The thief was able to get a fake driver\u2019s license from Alberta  under my friend\u2019s name (he\u2019s from Qu\u00e9bec, and never been to Alberta) and successfully opened a Royal Bank account with the fake Driver\u2019s License. <\/p>\n<p>Ouch! &#x1f915;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-identity-theft\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Identity_Theft\"><\/span>What is Identity Theft<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>That&#8217;s usually how it goes : personal information gets stolen, fraudster tries to open Credit Card and Mobile Phones accounts. If you <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">monitor your credit file<\/a>, chances are you can act on time and limit the damages. If you don&#8217;t, fraudsters can pile up debt under your name.<\/p>\n<p>The RCMP has useful <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca\/scams-fraudes\/id-theft-vol-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">facts and information<\/a> page about identity theft. They also published an identity theft prevention video we included below.<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iYEqegX-ung\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"victim-what-do-I-do-now\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Im_a_victim_what_do_I_do_now\"><\/span>I&#8217;m a victim, what do I do now?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you suspect someone is messing up with your identity, the first thing you should do is <span class=\"highlight\"><a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">check your credit score and credit file<\/a><\/span> to confirm any suspicious activity.  Here&#8217;s how : <\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 15px 5px 15px 0px;\">\n<h3 id=\"first-steps-to-recover-from-id-theft\" style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"First_Steps_to_Recover_from_Identity_Theft\"><\/span>First Steps to Recover from Identity Theft<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Get your <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">FREE Equifax Credit Report from Borrowell<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Get your <a href=\"https:\/\/creditkarma.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">FREE TransUnion Credit Report from Credit Karma<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Call <a href=\"https:\/\/equifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Equifax<\/a> (1-800-465-7166) and ask to place a fraud alert<\/li>\n<li>Call <a href=\"https:\/\/transunion.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TransUnion<\/a> (1-877-525-3823) and ask to place a fraud alert<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s what I did after Bell called me to report someone had tried opening an account under my name. <\/p>\n<p>I searched for  <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free credit reports for Canadians<\/a>. I signed up for  <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> and instantly got my  <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Equifax report for free<\/a>.  I was able to confirm there was a Bell Mobility inquiry in there that I hadn&#8217;t requested.<\/p>\n<p>You can set up a <a href=\"#add-a-fraud-alert\">fraud alert<\/a> on both your Equifax and TransUnion files so that creditors are aware that you may have been a victim of identity theft. You can place an initial, one-year fraud alert, or an extended fraud alert. The latter will require a copy of a valid police report, and lasts for 7 years.<\/p>\n<p>TransUnion also allows to place a fraud statement to your file.  The statement is visible on your file for six years and will alert creditors of the fraud.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"credit-bureaux-in-canada\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Credit_Bureaus_in_Canada\"><\/span>Credit Bureaus in Canada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are two credit bureau in Canada that collect information about your past and present credit history. <\/p>\n<p>Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada both have a credit file on your name and establish your credit score according to your credit history.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/equifax-transunion.jpg\" alt=\"Equifax transunion\" title=\"equifax-transunion.jpg\" border=\"0\" width=\"300\" \/><\/h3>\n<div style=\"text-align:center;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.equifax.ca\/personal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Equifax Canada<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Free Equifax Credit Report &#8211; Borrowell<\/a><br \/>\nToll free: 1-800-465-7166\n<\/div>\n<hr style=\"color:#dddddd; margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\">\n<div style=\"text-align:center; margin-bottom:10px;\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/transunion.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>TransUnion Canada<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/creditkarma.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Free TransUnion Credit Report &#8211; Credit Karma<\/a><br \/>\nToll free: 1-877-525-3823\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\">It&#8217;s important to know that you need to check both.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You should and need to check both because companies either work with one or the other and not both.  Your credit could be clean with one and not with the other.  In my case, the attempts at opening a Bell Mobility account was reported to Equifax. The Rogers and Scotiabank account opening attempts were reported to TransUnion.  <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-to-look-for-in-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_look_for_in_my_credit_report\"><\/span>What to look for in my credit report?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 15px 5px 15px 0px;\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reviewing_your_Credit_Report\"><\/span>Reviewing your Credit Report<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Look for credit inquiries you don&#8217;t recognize<\/li>\n<li>Look for accounts you don&#8217;t recognize<\/li>\n<li>Report everything you don&#8217;t recognize to Equifax and TransUnion<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>At first look for credit inquiries&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-60842\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-03-at-12.37.28-PM.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2019 04 03 at 12.37.28 PM\" width=\"850\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If there are inquiries that you don&#8217;t recognize, look further into the accounts to verify if an account under your name was successfully opened. Your credit report shows revolving credit accounts (credit cards), installments (car financing) and other  accounts (mobile phone)&#8230;<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/identity-theft-equifax-accounts.png\" alt=\"Identity theft equifax accounts\" title=\"identity-theft-equifax-accounts.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"723\" height=\"509\" \/><\/div>\n<p>If there are accounts you don&#8217;t recognize, you might want to get in touch with those companies to report your identity being stolen and have the accounts closed.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\">You will also need to report all fraudulent requests, either if it&#8217;s a credit inquiry or an unknown account, to Equifax and TransUnion. They will help you clean your credit file.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"Highlight\">Again, make sure you do this at both Equifax and TransUnion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I called both Equifax and Trans-Union to report my identity was stolen. <\/p>\n<p>At Equifax, Bell was the only recent inquiry showing. At Trans-Union, there was a Rogers inquiry and they told me that I (the other me) had tried opening a ScotiaBank account but that it was not authorized. I called Rogers to double check no account was opened on my name, they were very helpful and told me there was in fact a request to open an account under my name but that it was denied.<\/p>\n<p>I setup a fraud alert at both Equifax and Trans-Union (it&#8217;s FREE).<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"add-a-fraud-alert\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Add_a_fraud_alert_to_your_credit_file\"><\/span>Add a fraud alert to your credit file<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 5px 5px 5px 5px;\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fraud_Alerts\"><\/span>Fraud Alerts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Call <a href=\"https:\/\/equifax.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Equifax<\/a> (1-800-465-7166) and ask to place a fraud alert<\/li>\n<li>Call <a href=\"https:\/\/transunion.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TransUnion<\/a> (1-877-525-3823) and ask to place a fraud alert<\/li>\n<li>Verify the Fraud Statement shows in your TransUnion credit file<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is what a fraud statement at TransUnion looks like :<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-60843\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Screen-Shot-2019-04-03-at-12.37.54-PM.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2019 04 03 at 12.37.54 PM\" width=\"850\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Thanks to the fraud alert and fraud statement all new requests for credit won&#8217;t go through without being verified with me.<\/p>\n<p>It works. I recently bought a new car and got a call from financing that wanted to verify everything with me.<\/p>\n<p>However, new requests still affected my credit rating. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"notify-the-bureaus\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Notify_the_bureaus_of_unknown_inquiries\"><\/span>Notify the bureaus of unknown inquiries<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>TransUnion told me to notify them of requests that are not mine because those affect my credit rating.   The fraudulent requests from Rogers and Scotiabank in my case don&#8217;t show on my TransUnion credit report anymore.  I&#8217;m not sure why, the fraudulent Bell inquiry still shows on my Equifax Credit report. I&#8217;ll have to investigate this further.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"hard-inquiries-affect-your-score\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hard_inquiries_affect_your_credit_score\"><\/span>Hard inquiries affect your credit score<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Each hard inquiry into your credit score as part of an application still takes some points off your score. You should contact the credit bureau and file a dispute for unauthorized hard inquiries. The bureaus are then required to investigate the inquiry, and if they find that it was unauthorized, it should be removed from your credit report.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what TransUnion will send you after they complete their investigation (sorry I do not have an English version of this letter)<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/identity-theft-transunion-confirmation-letter.png\" alt=\"Identity theft transunion confirmation letter\" title=\"identity-theft-transunion-confirmation-letter.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"636\" height=\"706\" \/><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"start-monitoring-credit-file\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Start_monitoring_your_credit_file_now\"><\/span>Start monitoring your credit file now<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you can&#8217;t afford the bureaus&#8217; monitoring subscription fees, sign up for the <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/?p=60840#free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\">free credit reports<\/a> and make sure to refresh the reports monthly. <span class=\"highlight\">This way you can ensure your identity is not being compromised.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/identity-theft-reddit-thread-2.png\" alt=\"Start Monitoring your Credit File\" title=\"identity-theft-reddit-thread-2.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" height=\"101\" \/><\/div>\n<p>After you reviewed your credit using the <a href=\"#free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\">Free Credit Reports<\/a>, I highly recommend you subscribe to Equifax or TransUnion monitoring plans.  The free reports are updated monthly where as Equifax or TransUnion subscriptions will notify you of new alerts daily.  <\/p>\n<p>Investing a few dollars per month now can save you a lot of headaches in case someone tries to steal your identity.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"free-equifax-credit-report-borrowell\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_Credit_Report_from_Borrowell_Canada_%E2%80%93_Review_Getting_a_free_credit_report_instantly_in_Canada_is_much_easier_than_before_With_Borrowell_you_can_view_your_free_credit_score_and_report_in_less_than_3_minutes_You_can_monitor_changes_to_your_file_monthly_and_learn_how_to_improve_your_credit_score_Is_Borrowell_safe\"><\/span>Free Credit Report from Borrowell Canada &#8211; Review<\/h2>\n<p>Getting a free credit report instantly in Canada is much easier than before. With <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a>, you can <span class=\"highlight\">view your free credit score and report in less than 3 minutes<\/a>. You can <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">monitor changes to your file monthly and learn how to improve your credit score<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-free-credit-report.png\" alt=\"Borrowell free credit report\" title=\"borrowell-free-credit-report.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Is Borrowell safe?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> is a reputable and safe company that has been in business since 2014. It was the first company to offer a Free Equifax Credit Report to Canadians. There are now options to get both your Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada credit report for free.  <\/p>\n<p>They offer online loans and <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free credit reports<\/a> as an incentive to sign up with them. With your permission, they will provide you with personalized credit card and mortgages offers.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"highlight\">As of today, Borrowell provides <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">free credit report<\/a> to 850,000 Canadians.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Borrowell_Canada_Customer_Reviews_%E2%80%93_Social_Proof\"><\/span>Borrowell Canada Customer Reviews &#8211; Social Proof<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-free-credit-score-reddit-comment-2.png\" alt=\"Borrowell free credit score reddit comment 2\" title=\"borrowell-free-credit-score-reddit-comment-2.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\"  \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-free-credit-score-reddit-comment-1.png\" alt=\"Borrowell free credit score reddit comment 1\" title=\"borrowell-free-credit-score-reddit-comment-1.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-free-credit-score.reddit-comment-3.png\" alt=\"Borrowell free credit score reddit comment 3\" title=\"borrowell-free-credit-score.reddit-comment-3.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\" \/><\/div>\n<p>It&#8217;s the first service I signed up to when I learned that someone was trying to steal my identity. I really like it. It&#8217;s simple and intuitive and provides me with my <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">credit report<\/a> in a better way than Equifax and TransUnion does (it&#8217;s the same data but presented in a better user interface).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_Borrowell_makes_money\"><\/span>How does Borrowell makes money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> offers personal loans and earn a fee on each loan.  They also recommend products such as saving accounts, credit cards, mortgage and other financial products and generate revenues if you signup for one of their recommendations.  You are totally free to enrol for the recommended products. You can still get your free credit score if you ignore the offers. (I ignored all offers they sent my way so far).<\/p>\n<p>Borrowell&#8217;s business model explained :<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-explaination-business-model.png\" alt=\"Borrowell explaination business model\" title=\"borrowell-explaination-business-model.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"825\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Borrowell offers additional resources that can prove very useful.  My credit score had been going down since the fraud attempts. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-credit-coach-explain-credit-score.png\" alt=\"Borrowell credit coach explain credit score\" title=\"borrowell-credit-coach-explain-credit-score.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\"  \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Equifax_Credit_Score\"><\/span>Equifax Credit Score<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I wanted to track what it is that is impacting my credit score the most. To do so, I used Borrowell\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Credit Coach<\/a>. Borrowell, that offers free full Equifax credit reports, also has an automated assistant that can tell you the areas that are affecting your credit score the most. <\/p>\n<p>These areas include payment history, amount owing, credit utilization, types of credit, credit history and of course new credit applications.<\/p>\n<p>As always, with any online service, be aware that you are providing Borrowell with access to your personal data. Take your own decision as if it&#8217;s worth it for you to share your personal information in order to obtain a free credit report.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"free-transunion-credit-report-creditkarma\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Free_TransUnion_Credit_Report_from_Credit_Karma_Credit_Karma_is_a_real_website_with_a_solid_reputation_They_have_been_providing_free_credit_reports_in_the_USA_since_2007_and_recently_expanded_to_Canada_including_Quebec_Credit_Karma_recently_launched_the_Canadian_version_of_its_free_credit_report_Credit_Karma_provides_the_TransUnion_credit_report_for_FREE_Using_both_Borrowell_and_Credit_Karma_you_get_the_full_picture_of_your_credit_file_for_FREE_I_havent_succeeded_in_activating_my_free_Credit_Karma_report_and_have_been_blocked_for_1_month_security_measures_This_could_be_because_my_credit_file_has_an_active_fraud_alert_because_I_did_not_provide_my_Social_Security_Number_or_because_I_messed_up_answering_some_of_the_security_questions_Now_its_too_late_for_me_to_try_again_Ill_try_again_when_they_allow_me_in_30_days_You_can_try_it_yourself_and_let_us_know_how_it_goes_Ultimate_Identity_Theft_Checklists_Always_protect_your_personal_information_and_keep_the_following_tips_in_mind_to_prevent_or_lower_your_risks_of_identity_theft_Prevent_Identity_Theft_%F0%9F%94%90\"><\/span>Free TransUnion Credit Report from Credit Karma<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/creditkarma.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Credit Karma<\/a> is a real website with a solid reputation.  They have been providing free credit reports in the USA since 2007 and recently expanded to Canada (including Qu\u00e9bec). <\/p>\n<p>Credit Karma recently launched the Canadian version of its free credit report.  Credit Karma provides the <a href=\"https:\/\/creditkarma.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TransUnion credit report for FREE<\/a>.  Using both <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/creditkarma.ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Credit Karma<\/a> you get the full picture of your credit file for FREE.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 30px 0px; background-color: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; border-radius: 5px; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/borrowell-and-credit-karma-free-credit-report.png\" alt=\"Borrowell and credit karma free credit report\" title=\"borrowell-and-credit-karma-free-credit-report.png\" border=\"0\" width=\"850\"  \/><\/div>\n<p>I haven&#8217;t succeeded in activating my free Credit Karma report and have been blocked for 1 month (security measures). This could be because my credit file has an active fraud alert, because I did not provide my Social Security Number or because I messed up answering some of the security questions.  <\/p>\n<p>Now it&#8217;s too late for me to try again, I&#8217;ll try again when they allow me in 30 days.  You can try it yourself and let us know how it goes.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"ultimate-identity-theft-checklists\">Ultimate Identity Theft Checklists<\/h2>\n<p>Always protect your personal information and keep the following tips in mind to prevent or lower your risks of identity theft:<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 15px 5px 15px 0px;\">\n<h3 id=\"prevent-identity-theft\" style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\">Prevent Identity Theft &#x1f510;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Review your credit reports regularly (Free with <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> and <a href=\"#free-transunion-credit-report-creditkarma\">Credit Karma<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Be wary of unsolicited emails and phone calls<\/li>\n<li>Carry the minimum set of personal documents with you<\/li>\n<li>Check your <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">credit report<\/a> periodically<\/li>\n<li>Memorize your identification numbers, never write them down<\/li>\n<li>Shred documents with personal information before trashing them<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your mailbox is lockable to reduce mail theft<\/li>\n<li>Never leave your wallet unattended<\/li>\n<li>Keep cheques in a safe place, destroy cheques you don&#8217;t need<\/li>\n<li>Reconcile your bank statements promptly to detect fraudulent purchases<\/li>\n<li>Never give your social security number over the phone<\/li>\n<li>Shred pre-approved credit offers, do not discard in trash<\/li>\n<li>Avoid credit repair scams<\/li>\n<li>Watch for warnings signs of fraud<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>If it&#8217;s too late and you&#8217;ve been victim of identity theft, make sure you review the following checklist : <\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 25px 0; background-color: #e6f5f6; border: 1px solid #99d6d9; padding: 15px 5px 15px 0px;\">\n<h3 id=\"recover-from-identity-theft\" style=\"text-align: center; padding-bottom: 10px;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recover_from_Identity_Theft_%E2%9A%A0%EF%B8%8F\"><\/span>Recover from Identity Theft &#x26a0;&#xfe0f;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Review your credit report (Free with <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> and <a href=\"#free-transunion-credit-report-creditkarma\">Credit Karma<\/a>)<\/li>\n<li>Report to <a href=\"#credit-bureaux-in-canada\">Equifax<\/a><\/a>\n<li>Report to <a href=\"#credit-bureaux-in-canada\">TransUnion<\/a><\/a>\n<li>Add a <a href=\"#add-a-fraud-alert\">fraud alert<\/a> and statement to your credit files<\/li>\n<li>Report to Service Canada &#8211; Compromised SIN number (1-800-206-7218)<\/li>\n<li>Report the fraud to Local Law Enforcement Agencies<\/li>\n<li>Report the fraud to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca\/reportincident-signalerincident\/index-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Contact your financial institutions and notify them about what happened<\/li>\n<li>Contact the companies on your credit report that you don&#8217;t recognize<\/li>\n<li>Follow up with the bureaus and the companies<\/li>\n<li>Keep <a href=\"#start-monitoring-credit-file\">monitoring your credit report<\/a> for unauthorized activity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"more-resources\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_resources_for_Identity_Theft_victims\"><\/span>More resources for Identity Theft victims<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Canadian_Anti-Fraud_Center\"><\/span>Canadian Anti-Fraud Center<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Confirmed victims should contact the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca\/reportincident-signalerincident\/index-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Canadian Anti-Fraud Center<\/a> (1-888-495-8501) to report incidents. The Anti-Fraud Center is also a great place to learn about all <a href=\"https:\/\/www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca\/fraud-escroquerie\/index-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">types of frauds<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"conclusion\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I hope you found this story helpful and it motivates you set up fraud alerts, monitor your credit file, and keep an eye on your credit score. Identity theft is starting to become more sophisticated, and is a growing threat. <\/p>\n<p>However, don&#8217;t forget there are concrete steps you can take to prevent and minimize the damage to protect yourself.<\/p>\n<p>You can get your Equifax credit report and score for free using <a href=\"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Borrowell<\/a> and your TransUnion credit report free using <a href=\"#free-transunion-credit-report-creditkarma\">Credit Karma<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p>Refer to both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.equifax.ca\/personal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Equifax<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transunion.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TransUnion<\/a> for more information about how to obtain and monitor your credit file. <\/p>\n<p>Act now. <span class=\"highlight\">Don\u2019t wait before someone steals your identity.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Identity theft is becoming more and more common. In the most recent statistics, 20,611 Canadian fell victim to it, an increase of nearly 20% in a couple years. For the majority of victims, financial losses from identity theft is less [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":63276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"Yes","cwp_rev_product_name":"Borrowell","cwp_rev_product_image":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Borrowell_logo_.jpg","wppr_links":{"Borrowell":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/"},"cwp_rev_price":"0.00","wppr_options":[{"name":"User Interface","value":"70"},{"name":"Ease of Use","value":"70"},{"name":"Credit Report","value":"70"},{"name":"Updates","value":"70"}],"wppr_pros":["","","","","","","","","",""],"wppr_cons":["","","","","","","","","",""],"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews"],"wppr_data":{"cwp_meta_box_check":"Yes","cwp_rev_product_name":"Borrowell","_wppr_review_template":"default","cwp_rev_product_image":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Borrowell_logo_.jpg","cwp_image_link":"link","wppr_links":{"Borrowell":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/go\/borrowell\/"},"cwp_rev_price":"0.00","wppr_pros":["","","","","","","","","",""],"wppr_cons":["","","","","","","","","",""],"wppr_rating":"70.00","wppr_options":{"1":{"name":"User Interface","value":"70"},"2":{"name":"Ease of Use","value":"70"},"3":{"name":"Credit Report","value":"70"},"4":{"name":"Updates","value":"70"}},"wppr_review_type":null,"wppr_review_custom_fields":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60840","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60840"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60840\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60840"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60840"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stockchase.com\/discover\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60840"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}