Identity Theft Kit for Business now available online

As part of Fraud Awareness Month activities, Government Services Minister Dianne Whalen today joined her provincial and federal counterparts in launching the Identity Theft Kit for Business to help companies protect customer information.

Consumers, governments and businesses are trying to find ways to combat this rapidly growing crime. Last year, ministers released an information kit for consumers containing information on how to protect themselves from becoming a victim of identity theft. This campaign is being taken one step further today with the launch of a similar kit designed for businesses.

"Last year we put information in the hands of consumers to help them understand identity theft so they are in a better position to prevent it from happening to them," Minister Whalen said. "This year we are recognizing that the theft of personal information can take place from the businesses that hold our personal information."

The Identity Theft Kit for Business can be found on the government Web site, along with the information for consumers, at www.gov.nl.ca/gs/tpl/id-theft/ It is designed to inform businesses how to handle and protect customer information to ensure they are part of the solution to stop identity theft.

Businesses are encouraged to only collect essential information from their customers, conduct employee background checks and update security software frequently. Implementing preventive measures and preparing a strategy for managing a breach are critical to increasing consumer confidence that their personal and financial information is secure.

The private and public sector have worked with the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Consumer Measures Committee to develop the kit and promote it as part of Fraud Awareness Month, which ends today.

"Fraud Awareness Month is an important tool in encouraging people to become better educated about how to recognize a scam and what to do about it, but we must ensure the message is sustained for the other 11 months of the year too," Minister Whalen said. "We are all potential victims and the onus is on each of us to ensure we know when we are being targeted and to report it."

Over 35 private and public sector organizations, including many with a presence in this province, participated in Fraud Awareness Month in an attempt to educate Canadians and eliminate fraud.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-4860 or 690-6157

2005 02 28                  4:00 p.m.