HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-03-18, Page 2The Huron Expositor • March 18, •2009
Computer hackers stolew
From Page 1
an's on
password to access her bank accoun
She also started getting . corre-
spondence from banks, letting her
know that someone was asking for
e credit limits on her credit cards
be increased. e:z,
Then, when Falconer tried to
get a credit rating for herself, she
was denied access because her -ad-
ess and phone number had been
changed to a -Brampton address
which, when -they checked, didn't
R -;y�b� i�a•
ti
The 24k18 Annual Water Report for the
Municipality of Central Huron are now
available for viewing at the Municipal
Office, Z3 Albert Street, Clinton, Ontario
or view them on the municipal website:
www.centralhuron.com
Steve Gibbings, Utilities Manager
Municipality of Central Huron
actually exist. Her
banking statements
were no longer coming
to her home but to the
post office in Bramp-
ton.
Because her rural
family burns all of
their paper garbage,
Falconer was at a loss
about how fraudsters
could obtain her per-
sonal information.
She could only • think
that since 'she banks
online, there had been
some security breach
on her home computer.
"What most people don't,
realize is that while the bank's web=
site is secure, your home computer
might not be," she says, adding that
she didn't realize that herself after.
working in the banking industry
for 21 years.
Falconer says -she's learned that
`I really felt life
I was
invaded, it was
really
<4*.
emotionally
disturbing,' --
Deb Falconer
IdQntify theft victim
using trojans and vi-
ruses a home comput-
er can pick up on while
surfing the Internet,
hackers *an access
home computers and
actually watch while
you input your pass-
word and banking • in-
formation into the sys-
tem.
"It's called key strok-
ing and they can watch
ae you put in your
password since they're
logged into_ your com-
puter,' she says.
It took 'hours and
}. hours on the 'phone, visit-
ing `banks, signing affitdavit& swear-
ing she was who she said she Was oto
be able to set things right, closing
and reopening bank accounts and
replacing credit cards and Falconer
is hoping she's done enough to pro-
tect herself.
"I really felt like I was invaded, it
was really emotionally 'disturbing.
Here we are in Huron County and
it was = all happening in the 7bronto
area," she says. •
But, Falconer says she's learned
a lot from the ordeal :and wants to
share it with others.
"I didn't believe we. did anything
wrong but it really made me- aware
that you don't take anything for
granted," she - says, adding that
soon her family will be shredding
all of their paper before they burn
it.
"It's an unfortunate way to learn a
lesson but I'm pretty cautious now,"
she says. _ -
OPP Const. Chrystal Jones says
while there were only three iden-
tity thefts involving large sums of
money during : the past year in Hu-
ron County, it's something that re-
ally could happen to anyone.
"The people doing this are really
very good at it and it really is dif-
ficult to get everything back once
it happens : to you. It keeps com-
ing back and it's devastating," she
says.
Jones says that while people are
getting smarter about shredding
their documents and being careful
with their credit cards, it's amazing
what fraudsters can do with some-
one's personal information like a
eocital insurance number, a birth-
day or a maiden name.
"Never give out your personal in-
formation to anyone, especially if
they are calling you and you haven't_
confirnded their credentials," she
says.
Personal information can be sto-
len out of unlocked mailboxes, bank
machines that have been tampered
with and even unsecured wireless
networks which can be 'accessed
by anyone with a computer sitting
outside your house.
Jones recommends leaving per-
sonal information at home when
travelling since a stolen or' lost wal-
let ` can give fraudsters all the in-
formation they need to steal thou-
sands of dollars from someone.
"If you lose your wallet, you, lose
everything," she says.
More tips to avoid identity theft
can be found on the website of the
Ministry of Small Business and Con-
sumer Services at www.gov.on.ca/
mgs/en/ConsProt/STEL02_o45992.
html.
Losethe salt with:
•
.4# •• • •
f f`
e . 0 •
•
+ • , 4
ut losing the taste.
Call a Registered Dietitian !rfre.heaIthy eatineating tips.
1
•
r 'r 4 , .
ht Ontario 1-877-510-510-2»
4j.tt•�'t�
a
t'a a'. .0.'4.,.,t.
s i. v *. Y ',. . M� i'4 :. y 4• �.:n .�Y Y . ,i 4 a M :w..� . . � .b . •t". -4 a 'J: in
•
x•
Ontario
f)a1d •for•by the ,Governr ent of Ontario
•
•
f r i. r f e t 1.• 1 4 4...••• 1 i
r t • • • •