Life after theft
By Garry Marr, Financial Post
Sonja Schindeler won’t be checking in on Facebook any time soon.
The vice-president of fraud solutions of TransUnion of Canada says that’s one of the more obvious things a consumer shouldn’t do – telling friends where you are can alert thieves to your location and the fact you are not home.
March is Fraud Awareness Month so we are all inundated with tips about how to not get ripped off and to keep our personal information private.
Some of it is pretty basic. Incoming calls or people soliciting information through email should obviously raise more red flags than when you initiate the calls or a transaction. And how many people really have to tell you to not hand out your social insurance number?
But the reality these days seems to be you are going to face some sort of fraud in your life. I’ve been hit four times on my credit card, thieves once racking up $15,000 in charges in 36 hours. The charges were eventually reversed but I got to keep my points.
My question relates to whether I can or should be insuring against these type of risks?
“The best thing is precaution,” says Ms. Schindeler. “There are lot of services you can buy to help you fix a problem after you have one.”
A number of insurance companies have stepped up with identity theft protection programs, which will help you reestablish your identity once it has been compromised, promising to deal with lawyers and expedite the process.
Credit agencies like TransUnion and Equifax Canada Inc. also offer monitoring services, which allow you to look at your credit rating to make sure somebody hasn’t set up something like an unauthorized credit card or car loan. Equifax charges $14.95 to get a monthly credit report.
“What do I think of all these services? It all comes down to the individual and whether they are willing to invest their time and effort,” Ms. Schindeler says.
You want to save a buck, there’s nothing to stop you from getting your credit bureau history in the mail for free from both Equifax and TransUnion. That doesn’t do much to help with everyday fraud that might occur on your cards or bank accounts.
“Your legal duty to is be reviewing your transactions and then to have a communication with financial institutions if there is a transaction that doesn’t belong to you,” says Tara Zecevic, vice-president of technology solutions with Equifax Canada. “When you get your statement you have 30 days [to dispute any charges].”
If you are one of those people that gets a statement and stuffs it into a drawer, you could be in trouble if you haven’t noticed unusual charges for a few months. Luckily, credit companies monitor unusual charges and contact the consumer if something doesn’t add up.
“The real question is which partner can help you out if your identity is stolen,” says Henry Blumenthal, vice-president of TD Insurance, who says policies covering losses from the fraud itself are not usually offered by insurance companies. Normally, banks cover consumers for those losses.
One of the more recent innovations is the identity theft protection, which helps you unwind identity problems stemming from the fraud.
TD’s premium is $50 per household for a plan which will cover you for up to $30,000 in losses arising from losing your identity, which could include costs for issues like lawyer, notaries and your time.
“If you have to take three days off work, we can pay up to $5,000 for indirect losses like lost income or vacation time,” says Mr. Blumenthal, noting some companies include the coverage as part of a homeowner policy.
What you are ultimately paying for is an insurance company taking ownership of the entire process of re-establishing your identity, a process that can take months. TD says it can shorten the time.
“We take care of the headache for you,” Mr. Blumenthal says. “It’s much easier than doing everything yourself.”
That’s one headache you don’t want. Either way, fraud is going to cost you your time or your money.
gmarr@nationalpost.com
Labour Unrest Gone Wrong
Image via Wikipedia
You previously allocated the resources to undertake a threat risk assessment. The pre-strike contingency plan is now finalized. You are well prepared for your potential labour disruption. Your security provider is on retainer. The deadline is pending. Emotions are mounting, activity is escalating. Your security provider is on the ground. It’s a go!
Oh, wait! Your security provider is having contract troubles of its own. So sorry, you’ll have to take a backseat because they’ve got in-house issues of their own to deal with.
It like a bad movie. It hardly seems real.
It is… and you are now wishing someone had thought to consider whether or not your labour unrest security provider was unionized.
Airport security chaos escalating, public at risk, officers say
Canada NewsWire
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2011
Harper gives companies green light to drop gloves
TORONTO, Oct. 12, 2011 /CNW/ – Security is being compromised at Canada’s busiest airport by a private contractor that has been trying to force through controversial changes in passenger screening amid airline industry turmoil, according to the Canadian Airport Workers Union.
“We are witnessing dangerous breaches in security screening protocols meant to prevent terrorist attacks and hostage-taking. Passenger safety is being put at risk at home and abroad,” said Tim Cadeau, a spokesperson for security screening officers at the airport.
The union representing screening officers said Garda Security Group was scrambling to handle passenger volume at Pearson airport today, and has started waving passengers through without baggage checks and is using uncertified and untrained staff to screen for weapons and bombs.
“As professionals charged with protecting the public, officers cannot remain silent in the face of breaches of fundamental principles of airport security. We have an obligation to Canadians, international passengers, and our allies to keep our airports secure,” said Mr. Cadeau.
The union representing officers at Toronto’s main airport is speaking out for the first time after a labour dispute suddenly escalated yesterday when Garda Security Group unilaterally suspended 74 airport screeners, despite ongoing mediation efforts over recent changes in the screening regime.
“Up until a few days ago, Pearson airport had a steady, stable security screening system in place with a track record that was the envy of the world. Now, suddenly, we have utter chaos, and it is getting worse by the day,” said Mr. Cadeau.
While Air Canada has been locked in high-profile contract disputes with its service staff, airport security officers were long seen as above the fray – and are not due to start contract talks until 2012. But in an unexplained and sudden move last month, Garda Security Group attempted to ram through changes in the security regime, including forcing Screening Officers to bid on shifts in a bizarre system where officers are asked to underbid each other for shifts, allowing the contractor to take the lowest bid and pocket the extra profit.
Opposition from screening officers and their union led to mediation. However, last week Garda again attempted to force the changes through – despite ongoing mediation – and escalated tensions by laying off officers and introducing draconian measures, including refusing officers washroom breaks. The union said the escalations had led to officers resigning on the spot, and that one female officer was hospitalized after falling unconscious.
“Mediation is there for a reason. It allows calm heads to prevail and for fair and reasonable solutions to be found. Instead, we are seeing escalation. It seems Prime Minister Harper’s use of back-to-work legislation is being taken as a green light for companies to drop the gloves and go on the attack against frontline workers. Well, we won’t be silenced, we’re not going to take this lying down,” said Mr. Cadeau.
Related articles – Timeline
- Garda wins federal passenger screening contract (business.financialpost.com)
- Security workers slow travellers at Toronto’s Pearson (canada.com)
- Pearson airport operations back to ‘normal’ (cbc.ca)
- Toronto air travellers hit by more security delays (cbc.ca)
He is in his 50s and has spent his entire career in the quality-control department of a company owned by the Chinese government. His salary isn’t much, but he has made millions on the side – he won’t say precisely how – and now wants to emigrate to Canada.
There is a special program designed to fast-track immigrants with money to inject into the Canadian economy, but he doesn’t really qualify.
He has the required minimum of $1.6-million in assets. What he doesn’t have are the documents Canadian immigration officials want: neither banking and pay statements to show that his wealth has accumulated gradually and legitimately nor proof that he has paid taxes on it. He also doesn’t have the necessary two years’ experience in managing employees.
Read in full, The Globe and Mail article by Mark Mackinnon here.
Performing background checks on employees and job candidates can be an important way to protect an employer’s security and determine if someone is right for the job. However, with the amount of information available, it’s easy for an employer to dig a little too deep. Lori Williams of Corporate Inquiry Systems will discuss best practices and legal restrictions on performing various types of background checks.
To register online please visit www.hrpa.ca.
May 26, 2011
12:00pm – 1:00pm
$69.00 plus taxes
1.5 Recertification Points
PRESENTER: Lori Williams is the Director of Client Services at Corporate Inquiry Systems (CIS) in London, Ont. CIS provides background check services for employers including: reference checks, education verification, credential validation, credit checks, driving record reports, pre-employment drug testing and graphology. The company also provides informational seminars on topics such as workplace violence awareness, interviewing techniques and improving security.
FROM CHICAGO, THE REID INTERVIEW AND INTERROGATION TECHNIQUE
PRE-EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
A Personal Invitation for You & directed to:
CEO, COO, CFO, GENERAL MANAGERS, SENIOR-HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGERS and
PRACTIONERS OF HUMAN RISK MANAGEMENT
John E. Reid & Associates (since 1947) is world recognized for their Behavioural Interviewing and Interrogation techniques and programs. They have scaled this method to a Pre-Employment focus that will cut to the question of ‘Who You Are Hiring’ in one interview. You will learn to persuade a candidate to respond with transparency, honesty as well as learn truthful and deceptive indicators & how to deal with them.
Wednesday June 15th, 2011
Best Western Stoneridge Inn
6675 Burtwistle Lane, London, Ontario
(Just off the 401Exit 177 St.Thomas)
Registration 7:15a.m. – Seminar Starts at 8:00a.m. until 4:00p.m.
In this One (1) Full Day SEMINAR YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO:
- Recognize when an applicant is withholding relevant information.
- Identify when a candidate has falsified information on the application.
- Develop admissions of wrongdoing when the candidate initially tries to conceal.
- Assess the overall integrity and trustworthiness of the candidate.
INSTRUCTOR: Sergio Parisi has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Law Enforcement Administration. He graduated from Reid College in 1984 and is a licensed polygraph examiner employed by John E. Reid & Associates since January 2000 with over 7000 interviews and interrogations to his credit.
COST: $325.00 + HST – includes Continental Breakfast, Breaks and Lunch. (Save 10% with 4 or more corporate participants) 48 Hour cancellation notice is required to avoid full fee billing for this event. Direct billing is available upon request. All major credit cards are accepted.
CONTACT: Elaine Thompson at ethompson@corporateinvestigations.com or
Please call C.I.S. at 1-800-561-0574 to reserve your place.
This event promises to be well attended. Please register soon. We cannot guarantee seating will be available after June 8, 2011.
Minister Vic Toews is creating yet another finger print registry for Canadians. He has established a directive as Minister of Public Safety, to require all criminal record checks to include fingerprinting.
“It is anticipated that the Ministerial Directive and this policy will remain in effect until the RCMP criminal records system is fully automated and fingerprints are required for all Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sector Verifications.”
If you volunteer for anything, health, sports, community, school (this means all teachers, coaches, good Samaritans) – a fingerprint will be required.
Any job posting requiring a background check will require fingerprints.
Freedom of Information requires that the RCMP retain Criminal Record Search identification documents for 2 years. Minister Toews is assuring us that the fingerprints accompanying these documents are being destroyed after 90 days. We can find no proof of this 90 day policy but, we are assured that reference to it is forthcoming. When we get it, you will be one of the first to see it posted here.
In response, the RCMP have posted the caviat regarding their 90 day retention of fingerprint records. As promised, you are the first to publicly access the link describing their policy. You can review it here:
www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm
Related Articles
Union Serves 72-Hour Strike Notice at Cascade Carriers (newswire.ca)
CUPE, University of Guelph Ratify Agreement (canadaviews.ca)
Air Canada, sales agents to continue labor talks (Reuters)
Despite strike vote, Kamloops union says it wants to work (BCLocalNews.com)
Ontario introduces TTC essential service bill (CTV News)
Two suitors interested in Maritime Steel (The Chronicle Herald)
The financial impact on a corporation today related to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) fraud can and has greatly affected a company’s bottom line. WSIB fraud increases company operating costs and is a contributing factor to the closure of businesses in Ontario.
The average cost of a WSIB claim as of 2008 is $24,123.00. Based on actuarial calculations across the North American Worker’s Compensation sectors, if an employer’s profit margin is 6%, it will require $402,050.00 in sales to replace the $24,123.00 the employer spent on each claim. The average lost time claim in Ontario is approximately $106,000.00 which means with a 6% profit margin, the costs are $1,766,666.67.
Related Articles
Newswire.ca – HBC Employees Join United Steelworkers
Canada.com – Vancouver Island University Faculty Association voted 84% in favour of a strike
ITFglobal.org – Taxi drivers in Alberta vote for union membership
NUPGE.ca – NSGEU members vote to strike for first contract at the Metropolitan Housing Authority
