Protecting Your Social Insurance Number

In Canada, a Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required for you to work, file taxes, and access benefits and government programs in the country if eligible. You don’t need to pay anything to apply for a SIN.

Who Needs a SIN?

According to the Department of Employment and Social Development Act (DESDA) and the Employment Insurance Act, the following individuals need a SIN to work in Canada:

• Canadian citizens
• Permanent residents
• Temporary residents

Why Protecting Your SIN is Important

A SIN is not a piece of identification. However, it should be confidential and protected. You must provide your SIN when the law requires it to prevent fraud and ensure that your personal information remains private.

In Canada, asking for a person's SIN is not against the law. Often, private sector organizations ask for an individual’s SIN for their policies and procedures. They may also request your SIN to check your credit rating. However, if you don’t want to share your SIN for a credit check, you can give the requestor a copy of your credit report that does not include your SIN. Thus, it is best to be careful when sharing your SIN outside of the uses prescribed by law, as there could be risks. One of the risks includes identity theft.

How Identity Thieves Use Your SIN

Suppose your SIN, name, and other important personal information, such as birthdays and addresses, fall into the hands of fraudsters and other people with bad intentions. In that case, they can do a lot with your identity.

Once they have stolen your identity, they can open bank accounts and credit cards under your name, take out loans, and accrue tons of debt that you’re on the hook for. To simplify, they own your financial identity once they have stolen your SIN and other identification. Some identity thieves can also file false tax returns under your name or access your health care benefits for their own.

Best Practices for Protecting Your SIN

The most effective way to protect your SIN is to limit who has access to it. Please do not share it with anyone or use it as identification.

If you have a SIN card, it is best not to carry it in your wallet or purse. Instead, keep it in a safe place. Never provide your SIN in person, over the phone, or via email unless legally required. If you have documents containing your SIN, shred them if they are no longer needed. Do not recycle this type of confidential document.

Contact Service Canada if you change your name, your citizenship status changes, or if details on your SIN record are incorrect or incomplete.

Signs of SIN Identity Theft

There are telltale signs if someone other than you is using your SIN. Here are some of them:

• If the Canada Revenue Agency sends you a Notice of Reassessment for undeclared earnings.
• You see a credit account you did not open while checking your credit report.
• When you stop receiving your bills and financial statements.
• You see transactions in your bank account that you did not make.

What to Do if You Think Someone Stole Your SIN and Identity

If one or all the signs of SIN identity theft above is true to you, here are the steps you need to take to prevent personal loss and minimize the negative impact:

Step 1: File a police report.

Ask for the case reference number and the officer’s name and number. When filing the report, ensure it contains your name and SIN.

Step 2: Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website or call 1-8880495-8501.

Step 3: Call Canada’s two major credit bureaus:

• Equifax Canada – 1-800-465-7166
• TransUnion Canada – 1-800-663-9980

Ask each credit bureau for a copy of your credit report. Tell them a fraud warning will be placed on your profile, instructing creditors to contact you personally before opening new accounts under your name.

Step 4: Review both credit reports.

Check if there are accounts that you didn’t open yourself or if there are creditors who have made inquiries on your credit report that you didn’t ask for credit. If there are any, contact these and tell them about identity theft. Request them to close any accounts you didn’t open and decline any accounts you did not request.

Step 5: Review all your banking and credit card statements.

If there are any discrepancies, contact the financial institution.

Step 6: Report any problems with your mail to Canada Post.

Step 7: Visit a Service Canada Centre.

Bring proof of SIN identity theft and a police report. You should also bring a valid primary identity document such as a birth certificate or Certificate of Canadian citizenship.

Conclusion

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is important. By safeguarding it along with your personal and financial information, you can prevent identity theft and other fraud. We hope that these tips will help you protect your SIN.

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