// STOP, THIEF!

Identity thieves work 24/7, looking for ways to steal your hard-earned cash. They might try to steal the information off a card, intercept your mail or even go through your trash.

But you can foil them. Protect your personal information and your plastic as if they were gold.

• Choose a PIN. Not just any PIN — make it hard to guess. Don't base it on your student number, SIN, birthday or phone number, but do make sure it's easy for you to remember.
• Protect your PIN. Never share it or write it down and always shield it when you key it in.
• Sign your card. As soon as you receive a new card, sign the back and call to activate.
• Report lost or stolen cards. Call the number on your statement as soon as you notice a card is missing or if you suspect fraud.
• Check your statement. Compare your bank and credit card statements (hard copy or online) against your receipts. If there's an extra charge or if a purchase is missing, report it to the card issuer immediately — you may have been the target of fraud.
• Shred your stuff. Shred old receipts, credit transactions, statements, bills — any piece of paper with your name, address, phone number, SIN, student number, credit or debit card number, your signature or any other personal information.
• Reroute your mail. How many times will you move over the course of your studies? Mail that sits unclaimed is vulnerable. Every time you change addresses (including moving home for the summer), submit a change of address to the issuer or request mail redirection from Canada Post. You can order temporary rerouting service if you're coming back to an address.