What to Do

• Sign all credit cards as soon as you receive them.
  
  
• Pay attention to billing cycles. If bills fail to arrive, contact the company to ensure the bill has not been illicitly redirected.
  
  
• Review your financial statements and look for unauthorized transactions such as purchases and withdrawals.
  
  
• Limit the number of credit and charge cards you own to reduce exposure.
  
  
• Notify your creditors immediately if you have lost or had a card stolen.
  
  
• Destroy cancelled cheques and store new cheques in a safe place.
  
  
• Destroy pre-approved credit card applications, credit card receipts, bankbooks, bank statements with cheques and pay statements.
  
  
• Cancel all inactive credit cards.
  
  
• Review credit bureau files annually and immediately question any unknown credit inquiries or unauthorized accounts.
  
  
• When using passwords, choose unique ones that are difficult for others to guess.
  
  
• Before providing any personal information to a third party, find out how it will be used and if it will be shared.
  
  
• Carry only the essential identification information you need with you and keep things like your Social Insurance Number/Social Security Number and passport secured at home or in a safety deposit box.
  
  

What to Avoid

• Never record or keep a Client Card PIN, password or Social Insurance Number/Social Security Number in your wallet.
  
  
• Only provide your Social Insurance Number/Social Security Number when absolutely necessary, i.e. for tax purposes and when opening accounts.
  
  Note that RBC will never request your Social Insurance Number/Social Security Number in an unsolicited email or phone call for any reason, for tax purposes or otherwise.
  
  
• Don't leave mail lying around. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, and promptly remove mail from your box after delivery.
  
  
• Don't discard personal financial information (bills, bank statements, cancelled cheques) through your local recycling program.
  
  
• Don't provide personal information such as birth date in response to an unsolicited email or telephone call.
  
  
• Don't provide your credit card number unless you have initiated the call to a trusted third party.
  
  
• Don't leave your purse or wallet unattended at work, restaurants, health clubs, in a shopping cart or at social gatherings.
  
  
• Never lend credit or debit cards to anyone.