When most people think about identity theft, they picture sophisticated hackers breaking into computer systems from dark rooms halfway around the world. It’s important that you protect yourself from identity theft.
While cybercrime certainly exists, the reality is often much simpler — and much closer to home.Many cases of identity theft don’t begin with advanced technology at all.
They begin with people.
- A clicked link.
- A rushed decision.
- A reused password.
- A fake text message that looks legitimate.
That’s all it can take.
Today, our personal information lives almost everywhere:
• online shopping accounts
• banking apps
• payroll systems
• healthcare records
• insurance files
• social media platforms
The convenience of digital life has made everyday tasks easier, but it has also created more opportunities for criminals to gather information piece by piece.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians reported more than 112,000 fraud cases in 2025, with losses exceeding $704 million. And experts believe many more incidents go unreported.
What’s especially concerning is that identity theft often starts with information we don’t think twice about sharing:
• birthdates
• addresses
• employment details
• usernames
• phone numbers
Individually, these details may seem harmless. Together, they can be used to impersonate someone, access accounts, or commit fraud.
One of the most common examples today is the fake delivery text scam.
You receive a text message that appears to come from a shipping company asking you to confirm delivery details. The message looks professional, so you click the link and enter your information. Days later, unauthorized charges appear on your account.
Another growing threat happens in the workplace.
An employee receives what appears to be an urgent email from a manager requesting payroll information or a wire transfer. The request feels legitimate and time-sensitive, so it gets processed quickly — only to later discover it was fraudulent.
These scams succeed because they rely on human behaviour:
• trust
• urgency
• distraction
• fear of making mistakes
That’s why identity theft is not just a technology issue. It’s a people issue.
Technology can help protect systems, but awareness protects trust.
One of the best habits anyone can develop is simple:
Pause before reacting.
If something feels urgent, emotional, or unusual:
• stop
• verify
• confirm through another channel
That small pause can prevent enormous damage.
For more helpful security tips check out – Cyber Crime – How to Protect Yourself.
In our next blog, we’ll look at five everyday scams Canadians are falling for right now — including AI voice fraud, cloned social media accounts, and online marketplace scams — and what you can do to protect yourself before it happens.
This is part one of a three part series authored by Marlene Lane, MBA, CIAPP-P
About the Author
Marlene Lane is the Principal Consultant at LANEiQ Consulting, based in Sherwood Park, Alberta. LANEiQ helps small and mid-sized businesses and organizations build privacy practices and people systems that protect trust from the inside out, because when people and privacy are aligned, organizations function better, and the people within them feel it.
Connect with Marlene on LinkedIn
