The COVID-19 pandemic has not only seen the rise of a fatal viral infection, but also the growing threat of online fraud and identity theft. Sadly, it seems Canadians are ill-equipped, and few recognize that they have been victimized by fraudsters, according to a new survey.
According to a survey by P&C insurer Johnson Insurance, nearly half (48%) of Canadian respondents are unable to identify all of the warning signs that they have become a victim of identity theft, when provided with a list of telltale data theft indicators.
Canadians are most familiar with the direct financial warning signs of identity theft, like unexplained withdrawals or charges on their accounts (36%), and receiving bills for unreceived services (33%). But it was the more indirect signs that most Canadians had difficulty detecting.
These indirect signs of identity theft and fraud include:
The same survey did however find that some Canadians are aware that the threat of identity theft and fraud has been on the rise during the pandemic. It revealed that 27% of respondents have noticed an increase in suspicious COVID-19-related activity linked to fraudulent websites and online advertisements. Another 23% have noticed an increase in suspicious emails, while 20% observed more suspicious text messages or phone calls.
“COVID-19 has created new avenues for identity theft – including applications for the CERB in the name of an identity theft victim,” said Johnson Insurance vice-president of home & auto Alex Rafuse. “With more people working from home during the pandemic – answering home phone calls or disposing of personal and work-related documents in residential recycling bins – there is a higher than normal susceptibility to fraud.”
Johnson Insurance noted in a release that its customers can receive coverage for identity theft expenses through its Preferred Service Home Plan.
