Understanding fraud and identity theft

Identity theft is the illegal use of your personal information. It involves stealing the identity of another person, usually for the purpose of financial gain or other criminal purposes.

Your name, date of birth, address, credit card number, Social Insurance Number (SIN) and other personal information can be used to take over your existing bank accounts or to open new ones, as well as to apply for credit cards, redirect mail, establish cellular phone service, rent vehicles, buy merchandise, and even secure employment.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has published a guidance document called Identity Theft and You to share tips for reducing your risk of identity theft.

From fake claims and altered documentation to ID misrepresentation, Co-operators and our group of companies have dedicated resources to investigate fraud. If you suspect insurance fraud, we would like to hear from you.

Call our Fraud Tip Hotline 1-833-320-3210
or
Email details to report_fraud@cooperators.ca

If you prefer to not report directly to Co-operators, anonymous tips can be reported as follows:

For Home, Auto and Business insurance related matters: Insurance Bureau of Canada.

For Health Benefits related matters: Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.

As a Co-operators client, identity theft coverage is included on your Home, Condominium and Tenant insurance policies at no extra cost. For more information, ask your local Financial Advisor about this coverage.

If you believe that you may have been a victim of identity theft, contact us immediately to let us know.

We are committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, accuracy, and security of the personal information collected, used, retained, and disclosed in the course of doing business with you. For more information on our privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy Statement and Disclosure.

On occasion, we have been alerted to some possibly fraudulent companies using The Co-operators phone numbers deceitfully. This practice is known as “Caller ID spoofing,” which entails placing calls from one phone line but having the number and/or name that appears on the receiver’s phone changed to make it look legitimate.

If you have reason to believe that The Co-operators is being misrepresented and you receive one of these “Caller ID spoofs” we encourage you to report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or by calling 1-888-495-8501. Please provide as many details as possible to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, such as the date and time of the call, the displayed phone number, the home number called and the name of your service provider.

As we investigate these incidents and look into possible legal and technical remedies, please keep in mind that the number that appears on your caller identification is not necessarily the one actually calling you. Also, please note that The Co-operators will never ask for credit card or other sensitive information over the phone.

If you have any questions, please contact us at compliance@cooperators.ca.

From time to time, we come across fraudulent Co-operators cheques that are being used in various scams. For example, individuals have reported receiving cheques with a reference to mystery shopping; these cheques are fraudulent. If you unexpectedly receive a cheque from The Co-operators or are unsure about the origins of a Co-operators cheque, please contact us at compliance@cooperators.ca to verify its authenticity.