More than a fifth of Canadians were victims of credit or debit card theft in the past two years, says in-house research by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)..“Nearly a quarter discovered their bank or credit card number was used without authorization,” said the survey..“Almost one quarter, 23%, discovered someone used their bank or credit card number to pay for goods without their authorization in the past two years.”.Blacklock’s Reporter said most cardholders contacted their bank or credit union. Typical theft involved credit cards used for unauthorized transactions, though 4% of respondents said their debit card data was stolen..The FCAC paid nearly $230,000 for the survey by Phoenix Strategic Perspectives Inc. and polled 12,183 people nationwide..The survey also revealed only 15% of Canadians changed e-mail passwords at least once a year with 22% having never changed their password. A vast majority — 87% — used anti-virus software..The survey asked Canadians who had been victims of a computer attack, financial loss or identity theft as a result of their online activity. Two-thirds of the respondents said their online behaviour had changed as a result of their experience..“Nonetheless, a group of roughly one in four Canadians, 27%, still do not see the need for protecting themselves online, even in the face of previous experience,” wrote researchers..An earlier survey done by the Department of Public Safety in 2017 found 12% of Canadians had suffered loss or were victims of financial fraud. Rates were highest in BC at 16% and Atlantic Canada at 15%..The 2017 survey showed 5% of respondents had been victimized by identity theft which was an increase of 3% from a comparable poll in 2011..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
