Crime Prevention – Identity Theft and Cyber Safety

Identity theft has been in existence for some time, but given the advances of technology, such crime and other related crimes are more prevalent than before. Identity theft occurs when someone wrongfully obtains and uses the personal identifying information of another individual to commit a crime such as fraud or theft.

By using an individual’s basic information (name, address, social insurance number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name) identity thieves may gain access to bank accounts, apply for loans/credit cards, lease/buy cars, rent property and/or engage in criminal activity that ultimately gets associated to an unsuspecting victim.


To curb the opportunity of would-be identity thieves ensure that you are very careful with your personal information, regardless of the format it is in, especially when it comes time to discard items. Earlier in May, the Wood Buffalo RCMP teamed-up with Alberta Motor Association and Shred-it to provide residents the opportunity to bring-in their identity sensitive waste for secure destruction.

Successful crime prevention, including identity theft, is also related to safe internet usage practices. The following are a few cyber-crime prevention tips that would apply to even the most basic internet user.

• Use Strong Passwords: Use different user ID/password combinations for different accounts and avoid writing them down. Make the passwords more complicated by combining letters, numbers, special characters and change them on a regular basis.
• Secure Your Computer: Activate firewalls as they are the first line of defense and block connections to unknown or bogus sites that may have harmful components. A secondary line of defense is to install and keep updated anti-virus software on your computer.
• Be Social-Media Savvy: Make sure your social networking profiles are set to private, and be careful of what you post online. Once posted or sent, it’s out there forever!
• Secure your Mobile Devices: Be aware that your mobile device(s) is vulnerable to viruses and hackers just like a computer would be. Only download applications from trusted sources.
• Install the Latest Operating System Updates: Keep your application and operating system current with the latest system updates. Turn on automatic updates to prevent potential attacks on older software.
• Protect Your Data: Use encryption for your most sensitive files such as tax returns or other financial records. Make regular back-ups of all your important data and store it in another location.
• Secure Your Wireless Network: Wi-Fi networks at home are vulnerable to intrusion if they are not properly secured. Review and modify the settings to ensure only authorized users have access. Public Wi-Fi, or ‘Hot Spots’ are also vulnerable. Avoid conducting financial or corporate transactions on these networks.
• Protect Your e-Identity: Be cautious when giving out personal information or financial information on the Internet. Make sure websites are secure (while making online purchases) or that you’ve enabled privacy settings (when accessing social media sites).