March is Fraud Awareness Month and George Greenwood of Canadian Identity Resources is coming to Ladner this week to discuss how to fight back against fraudsters.
He is hosting a public forum on Thursday, March 22 that will touch on several topics, chief among them the information that appears on documents kept in the vehicle
Greenwood says it's been shown, throughout the Fraser Valley, that one of the targets when a vehicle is broken into are the registration papers. This information is useful for the perpetrators for identity theft purposes or to determine where you live.
Along with the Surrey Board of Trade, Greenwood is undertaking a campaign asking for the public's thoughts on ways of presenting the needed registration and insurance information in a more secure way.
"There are some of our provincial MLAs that already agree with the need to make changes that suit today's situation and the use of modern technology to make this procedure more secure and safe," he says.
"What would you do if your identity was compromised? Most people have no clue about what to do. Add in the trauma, anxiety and shock of the occurrence, and it becomes even worse."
Along with the discussion on vehicle registrations, Greenwood will touch on 10 important steps to take to prevent identity loss as well as the 10 steps that need to be taken to restore your good name after your identity is compromised.
"If you have not been victimized by the horrific crime, I am sure you are close to someone that has," says Greenwood. "The numbers prove that."
The forum will help determine what is going to be requested of ICBC and the provincial government in terms of protecting British Columbians from identity theft.
It will take place at the Delta Town & Country Inn. Doors open at 6: 30 p.m. and the presentation will run from 7 to approximately 8: 30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person or $15 per couple.
