Effective November 1, 2007 Lambton Mutual Insurance Company is pleased to offer:

IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION

to all home, farm, tenant and condominium unit owners. This new coverage will reimburse you for the expenses you incurred in reclaiming your identity should it be used fraudulently by others. Look for this coverage on your renewal declaration page and contact your agent or broker if you have any questions.

Identity Theft Protection - Helpful Tips

1. Sign all credit cards when you receive them and never lend them to anyone.
2. Cancel and destroy credit cards you don't use and keep an accurate list of the ones you use regularly.
3. Carry only the identification information and credit cards that you actually require. Do not carry your social insurance number (SIN); leave it in a secure place.
4. Pay attention to your billing cycles and follow up with your creditors and utility companies if your bills do not arrive as scheduled.
5. Carefully review each of your monthly credit card statements and immediately report discrepancies to the issuing company.
6. Destroy paperwork you no longer need, such as banking machine receipts, utility bills and credit card receipts.
7. Secure personal information both at home and at the office.
8. Never give personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you initiated the contact and are familiar with the organization or person with whom you are dealing.
9. Password-protect your credit card, bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily determined PIN numbers and never keep a record of them with you. Change your computer password regularly or as prompted by the operating system.
10. When using the Internet, take security precautions by using encryption, digital signatures, and protected payment methods. Install a firewall and/or other anti-virus software to protect your computer and wireless connections from unauthorized users and viruses.
11. Order a copy of your credit report at least once a year. Make sure your credit report is accurate and includes only those activities that you authorized.