At Prairie Centre Credit Union, we're working with you to protect your identity.  By taking steps to carefully guard your PIN, safeguard your debit and credit cards, and by being aware of any unusual signs, you can minimize your risks.  At Prairie Centre, we'll continue to use the latest technology available for debit cards, credit cards, and online financial transactions to ensure that you have the best access to trusted and secure financial services.  Your security is extremley important to us!

Here are some ways to protect your personal identity: 

• If you have several debit cards and credit cards, carry only those that you need.  Leave the others at home in a safe place.
• Sign your card immediately.
• Don't carry your social insurance card or birth certificate with you and don't give out the number unless its absolutely required.  Keep it in a safe, secure place.
• Don't attach or write your PIN number or social insurance number on anything you are going to discard, such as transaction records or scraps of paper.
• Shred any document that contains your debit card or credit card number before you discard it.
• Check your receipts to make sure they belong to you and not somone else.
• Don't give personal information or account numbers to anyone until you have confirmed the identity of the person asking for it.  You should also ask how the information will be used and whether it will be shared with anyone else.  Ask if you have a choice about providing personal identifying information  and, if you can, choose to keep it confidential. 
• Frequently, check your credit report so you're aware fo any changes or unusual activity.  Credit information can obtained once a year at no charge from Equifax Canada at http://www.equifax.ca or 1-800-165-7166, or Trans Union of Canada at http://www.tuc.ca or 1-800-663-9980.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles.  Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.  A missing credit card bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your credit card account and changed your billing address to cover their tracks.
• Guard your mail from theft. 
• Protect your computer with a good firewall and anti-virus software.  Take advantage of technologies that enhance security and privacy when using the Internet, such as using digital signatures, data encryption, and different ways of making the information anonymous. 
• Avoid posting personal information on publicly accessible Web sites and on-line bulletin boards.
• Don't include your social insurance number and other sensitive information in on-line resumes.
• When you register for certain Web sites, use strong passwords and avoid words that are easy to guess.  Don't use the same password for different sites and don't store your password in your computer.
• Be wary of on-line offers from Web sites you don't know and trust
• Shred outdated bills, tax documents and other sensitive information.