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ID Theft in Canada
Findings
Identity theft in Canada continues to rise at an alarming rate, with over half of these crimes originating from non-digital material. All Canadians are at risk of having their identity stolen non-electronically from any physical location where they have frequented.
Insights & Statistics:
- According to a 2019 study by Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 69% of Canadians survey are concerned about identity theft and 79% shred personal documents before disposing of them.
- Identity thefts rose from 2.37 incidents per 100,000 to 10.11 incidents per 100,000 from 2010 to 2018 in Canada.
- A 2017 Identity Theft Assessment and Prediction Report determined that 53% of identity fraud originates from non-digital material.
- It has been estimated that North American businesses spent over $102 billion dollars on cybersecurity in 2018 and only $12 million dollars on securing information in physical form.
- The victims of identity theft in Canada are of all ages and lifestyles. However, the majority of victims of identity theft in Canada are those with good or potentially good credit ratings.
- Not all identity theft victims are individuals. Corporations, financial institutions, and small businesses are also identity theft victims in Canada.
- Non- electronic identity theft victims in Canada can be targeted by having the red flags up on their mailboxes, also known as 'steal me' flags to identity thieves. Identity thieves will steal outgoing mail and search for valuable information like bank account and credit card numbers.
- Criminals also target other locations where identity theft victims in Canada may not feel at risk like a victim's car, workplace, trash dumpster, and places of recreation.
- Many identity theft victims in Canada report that it can take months or even years, with considerable personal expense, to restore their identity and credit rating.
- Individual identity theft victims in Canada often suffer financial loss, damage to their credit rating, damage to their reputation, and emotional distress. Identity theft victims may even be mistaken by law enforcement as the criminals.
- Corporations, financial institutions, and small businesses who are the victims of identity theft in Canada can suffer financial loss, damage to reputation and credibility, and a significant negative impact on future operations.
Research Strategy
We gathered insights and statistics from multiple credible sources about non-electronic identity theft victims in Canada like the Public Safety Department of the Canadian government, Consumer Protection Ontario, and Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. We were able to find recent statistics about the number of identity theft crimes overall in Canada. We were unable to find recent specific statistics for non-electronic identity theft in Canada. However, we can reasonably conclude from the 2017 Identity Theft Assessment and Prediction Report statistic (bullet point number four) that was mentioned in an article about North America and published by a Canadian newspaper that this statistic about non-electronic identity theft would also be directly relevant for Canadian victims. We can also reasonably conclude from our research that insights about who the victims are in Canada who are most targeted for identity theft, what their typical recovery times are in Canada to have their identities restored, and what the repercussions are in Canada for having their identities stolen would be true for both victims of electronic and non-electronic identity theft.