RECOMMENDED STEPS FOR CREDIT CARD CUSTOMERS IN CANADA:
We encourage credit card customers in Canada to take the following steps:
Carefully review your credit card statements from American Express, MasterCard and VISA for unauthorized transactions. If you detect any unauthorized or suspicious use of your card, contact your credit card issuer or bank immediately.
You may obtain a free copy of your credit report from each of the Canadian national credit reporting agencies.
For debit card customers:
We believe that transactions made at Winners and HomeSense stores using debit cards issued by Canadian banks that were transacted through the Interac network were not compromised.
Although we believe that information from transactions at our U.S. stores (other than Bob's Stores) using debit cards issued by Canadian banks that were transacted through the NYCE network could have been compromised, we do not believe the personal identification numbers (PINs) required to use these Canadian debit cards were compromised in the Computer Intrusion.
How to obtain your free credit history report:
To obtain a free credit report from a credit reporting agency, you must submit a written request to the agency. They will not process requests made over email or by telephone. There are two large credit reporting agencies in Canada. The address for one, Equifax, is set out below. The credit reporting agencies provide free credit reports only by mail.
The request must include your name, current address, all former addresses for the past five years, date of birth, and signature. It is optional to provide your Social Insurance number or your telephone number. You must also include photocopies of two pieces of personal identification, such as a driver’s license. A sample request form for Equifax is available at:
www.equifax.com/EFX_Canada/consumer_information_centre/docs/request_report_form_e.pdf (Equifax)
For Equifax, mail your request for your credit report to:
Equifax Canada Inc.
National Consumer Relations
Box 190 Jean Talon Station
Montreal, Quebec
H1S 2Z2
Your credit report will be mailed to you.
What to look for:
You should notify the credit reporting agencies of any inaccuracies in your report, whether due to error or fraud, as soon as possible so the information can be investigated and, if found to be in error, corrected. If there are accounts or charges you did not authorize, immediately notify the credit reporting agencies by telephone and in writing.
If you find items you don’t understand on your report, call the credit reporting agency at the number given on the report you receive in the mail. Credit agency staff will review your report with you. If the information can’t be explained, then you will need to call the creditors involved.
PLACING A FRAUD ALERT ON YOUR CREDIT FILE:
If you believe that your credit has been compromised, you may want to consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.
What is a fraud alert?
A fraud alert helps protect you against the possibility of an identity thief opening new credit accounts in your name. When a merchant checks the credit history of someone applying for credit, the merchant gets a notice that there may be fraud on the account. This alerts the merchant to take steps to verify the identity of the applicant.
How to place a fraud alert on your credit file: You can place a fraud alert on your credit file by contacting the credit reporting agencies. The fraud alert requests that creditors evaluating any application for credit under your name contact you directly to ensure that you are the person applying for the credit. Since the credit reporting agencies operate independently of each other, you must call each credit reporting agency if you wish to place a fraud alert with each agency.
The contact information for Equifax is:
Equifax 800-465-7166 www.equifax.ca
APPLYING THE GOVERNMENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS
If you believe your identity has been stolen, the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada recommends that you take these additional steps:
- Close the accounts that you have confirmed or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
- File a local police report. Obtain a copy of the police report and submit it to your creditors and any others that may require proof of the identity theft crime.
- If you believe that any of your Government-issued documents have been stolen, contact the appropriate ministry or department and request new documents.
- Call Phonebusters, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre, toll-free at 1-888-495-8501. Phonebusters is the central agency in Canada that collects information on identity theft complaints, and it provides advice and assistance to identity theft victims.
The Office of Consumer Affairs, Industry Canada also maintains a variety of resources for consumers who believe they may be the victims of identify theft. Their website is located at http://cmcweb.ca/epic/internet/incmc-cmc.nsf/en/fe00084e.html
INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS IN CANADA TO CONTACT CREDIT CARD COMPANIES:
American Express customers should call the phone number on the back of their American Express cards.
MasterCard at:
http://www.mastercard.com/ca/personal/en/cardholderservices/emergencyservices/help_fraud.html (English)
http://www.mastercard.com/ca/personal/fr/cardholderservices/emergencyservices/help_fraud.html (French)
Visa at:
http://www.visa.ca/en/personal/securewithvisa/fraudprevtips.cfm (English)
http://www.visa.ca/fr/personal/securewithvisa/fraudprevtips.cfm (French)
In addition, customers may contact their issuing banks at the numbers identified on the back of their cards.
INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS IN CANADA TO CONTACT EQUIFAX:
Equifax
Equifax Canada Inc.
National Consumer Relations
Box 190 Jean Talon Station
Montreal, Quebec
H1S 2Z2
Toll-free: 1-800-465-7166
http://www.equifax.ca
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMERS IN CANADA ON PROTECTING THEIR PERSONAL IDENTITY DATA:
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Identity Theft Fact Sheet:
http://www.privcom.gc.ca/fs-fi/02_05_d_10_e.asp
Office of Consumer Affairs, Industry Canada, Privacy & Identity Protection Resources:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inoca-bc.nsf/en/h_ca02226e.html
Government of Canada Public Safety Portal, Identity Theft Questions and Answers:
http://www.safecanada.ca/identitytheft_e.asp
