Identity Theft

[CharlesTD]

So I find out today that somone has stolen my identity pretty bad considering I work for a bank LOL. Anyone else dealt with this? I have now canceled and had to have all my account and credit cards canceled and re done what a pain in the butt. This is all because a government pension storage system computer system was stolen.

 

[kellyla]

Have you contacted the credit bereaus to have this put into your files(I think they call in red flagging)

 

[CharlesTD]

Yes I called Equifax and Trans Union for a total of 3.5 hours of holding time on the phone waiting to talk to a real person LOL but it is all done now so hopefully I am a little more protected. Trans Union has flagged my file for 5 years and Equifax has flagged it for 7 years.

 

[crazee4mickey]

That's terrible-I would panic if somebody stole my identity!
Doesn't it make you sleep better at night knowing that our government keeps everything so safely out of reach of the "bad guys"!!

 

[CharlesTD]

Well it is better than how it is in the US for sure I would hate to have to deal with this down there from some of the horrow stories I have heard from my sisters fiance who works for the GOV there.

 

[sammi]

My son's girlfriend recieved this letter last week and I got the same one on Monday................I was kind of thinking this is some kond of hoax? I'm not oo sure if I trust this letter. Has anyone else recieved one?

 

[disney funseeker]

I would wonder about a hoax as well. With all the fraud and hoaxes you hear about I could see some sick person taking pleasure in knowing that they are scaring and greatly inconveniencing others into cancelling and renewing their ID and credit.

On the other hand, if this was a letter sent out and not an e-mail, why would someone want to spend money mailing out all these letters just for a hoax? And if this was caused at the government level, a phone call to some government office should be able to confirm the crime.

 

[DisFan2]

I would presume that since a government pension storage system was stolen, then there are a lot more of us at risk. When did this happen? Do you have a contact name or number that you could post so we could check to see if anybody else here has lost personal information? Thanks!

 

[Debbie]

I did a search, and as soon as I found this information I remembered hearing about it in the winter. Since it deals with the Co-operators Life Insurance Co. and Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board, I didn't give it too much thought. Charles, did you get something to indicate it was something else?

 

[grover]

Same thing happened in wpg recently...somone stole a computer with employee info for one of the unions here..letters went out to everyone...my ex sil used to live with us years ago and her letter came here. Scarey.
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[DisFan2]

Hi Debbie,

That event took place almost two and a half years ago - I wouldn't expect people were still being stung by it (at least I would hope not anyway). The OP said "government pension storage" - that's what's got me concerned. Good memory on the Coop story BTW!

 

[CharlesTD]

It was titled Important Alert here are the contact numbers on teh letter HRDC (1800-206-7218) and Equifax Canada 1 800-465-7166 you then are given a number to contact the fraud dept this affected 700 thousand people because of the systems being stolen and it was taken to gain access to personal information. The Trans Union number is 1-866-525-0626. Hope this helps it is also listed with my bank now as they have recieved calls and my credit union etc. Also just so you know when you call any of the numbers and finally get it to ring you will have about a 35-40 minute wait to actually talk to somone.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

The information stolen was not from a government system - it has to do with various private pension funds where their information was stored in a Winnipeg location and administered by Prudent Benefits Administration Services Inc.

Some of their computers were stolen but the information was encrypted. They are advising people involved to contact the credit bureaus (equifax and transunion) and to contact HRDC social insurance registration to let them know that their SIN may have been stolen.

 

[CharlesTD]

Well it couldn't have been encrypted all that well because I got a phone call today to let me know somone in Quebec was trying to apply for a Visa with my info and I know darn well it isn't me.

 

[grover]

Perhaps you all are talking about 2 seperate events?? The one I referred to occurred here in Winnipeg approx 2 weeks ago..the being referred to in Ont may a be a seperate unrelated incident.
Grover in Winnipeg

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Grover, I do believe that it is the same incident - the information was being stored in Winnipeg but it did not only involve people living in Winnipeg.

Charles - my main point was that it was not a government pension that was compromised, it was from a private pension fund.

If you have had that kind of fraud then you should certainly contact HRDC in regards to your SIN as well as the credit bureaus.

Any encrytion can be broken if there is time and inclination.

 

[CharlesTD]

HRDC allready knows and so do the credit agencies and banks and credit unions I deal with. They never did tell me what location the info was stolen from they just said it was something to do with CPP and a system they had our info stored on.

 

[alohamom]

Charles, what a pain! Two years ago my friend was in the process of adopting her son when her files were compromised (some how, some way!) and her identity was stolen. She was outraged and frazzled by the ordeal. She had a few times over a 6 month period where Sears, the Bay, Visa etc called to confirm she had made large purchases which of course she hadn't. She did all that you have done and eventually it subsided but she felt so exposed and violated. I am happy to see you are taking it calmly, with your LOL's through out your messages-it must be the Disney spirit within you!

 

[CharlesTD]

Thanks Alohamom I think you are right it must be the Disney Spirit within myself and my family. I just take it in stride it is just something I have to deal with in life so I take it in stride I know it is serious and could cause me a great deal of grief but I can't let it bother me so I just laugh it off my DW thinks I am nuts LOL.

 

[SnowyPrincesses:)]

Yep, I got the letter too. It seems to suggest that it was an inside job(oh, what a relief ) It has affected alot of the workers in our small town. I'm in the Commercial foodservice pension plan. The thing is you never know when someone will try something. I haven't been able to reach anyone by phone yet but I did get a message from a bank branch I don't deal with? They have limited hours and I haven't reached the woman yet. Why oh Why couldn't I have gotten a pin code instead?