Tips: Protect yourself from Fraud

An important step in protecting yourself from real estate fraud is safeguarding personal information.

• Safeguard personal information until you know who you are dealing with, how it will be used and if it will be shared with anyone.
• Keep personal information confidential when on the phone or Internet until you know who you are dealing with.
• Carry minimal information or identification in your wallet.
• Inspect your credit reports on a regular basis. These can be provided free of charge by the credit reporting agencies. If you notice anything suspicious, contact the credit bureau with your concerns. Visit the websites listed at the end of this brochure for information on contacting the credit bureaus.
• Inspect your financial or bank statements monthly for inconsistencies or unknown charges.
• Protect the integrity of your mail. Make deliveries to and from the mail slots in person. Access your mail at regular intervals, ideally every day.
• Destroy financial or identification documents before discarding them.
• Destroy any unsolicited credit card applications that you may receive. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft or real estate fraud, such as:
  • Failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don’t arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover their tracks.
  • Receiving credit cards that you didn’t apply for.
  • Failing to receive credit cards you did apply for. 
   

Source: Alberta Mortgage Brokers Association (AMBA)