questions to protect myself

[tabby]

hello to everyone here. my name is tabby. i found this site while looking up some information about my ex. i live in sask. i married to a guy 7 months ago, and things have gone sour and now I need to protect myself. if anyone can help me? we didn't apply or nothing yet, but he got all my information/copy of all id and that stuff.  does anybody know what steps I should take to make sure nothing bad happens? or can he even do anything with it all?


thanks,tabby

[Leon]

What kind of things do you think he will try to do?  If he has really ALL of your info, he might try to apply for a credit card in your name and run up some bills.  I do not know if there is much you can do except keep a close watch on your credit records.

Were you planning to sponsor him?  I do not think he can apply to sponsor himself on your behalf but if you think he is going to try that, you can contact immigration and ask if they can flag his and your name in case he tries something.

[tabby]

thanx for a quick reply, yes he has EVERYTHNG. credit cards,banking accounts, i dont know if he would be so cruel to do anything with it but i want to be careful. he was pretty mad when i told him i didnt want to carry on in the relationship. we were planning on the sponsor thing, had the papers filled and ready to go. but as time that passed i started to question his intentions. there is a big long drawn out story to it all which i doubt everyone wants to know. but regardless, now i am left to clean up the mess and make sure it doesnt get worse.

how do i notify immigration? he has all the documents with him already signed and everything. could he try to follow through with applying? i was not worried but i have seen alot of ppl here say they didnt have an interview. so it got me thinking there is a possibility he could try it and get it and i would not know unless i get some huge bill in the after math.....

[AmericaninQuebec]

You should be able to contact the credit bureaus and alert them that there has been potential identity theft. They will flag your ID, and anytime someone tries to open a bank account/credit card/etc in your name the application will be flagged and generally they will not be processed until there is confirmation from you that you were actually the person making the application. It can be tedious and annoying (I had to do this when my wallet was stolen with my social insurance number in it about 8 yrs ago - yes a dumb move on my part!), but it is only for about 2 or 3 yrs and you will be much better protected. It may even give you legal recourse if a credit card is opened in your name without having been properly confirmed by you.

Also, if you really think he is going to try and steal your identity (i.e. open credit cards, forge your signature on sponsorship documents) you should contact your local police department and speak to them about it (identity theft is a real crime!). Depending on how he got your information (did he steal documents and take photocopies without your permission, or did you provide all of it before things went sour) they  may already be able to intervene in the matter.

On top of all of that, as Leon said, definitely contact Immigration Canada if you think he may try and forge your signature on sponsorship documents.

[tabby]

ok now i am worried 

i gave it all to him, we had been together for over 2 years, i trusted him... he has ALL the forms for the pr filled and signed already. so he wouldnt have to forge anything.

i called the banks and credit card office, they will put a flag like you said on my accounts, also my SIN to ensure its use in the future be verified as me being the one to use it.

i dont think he is that kind of guy, he never took money from me, even if offered. but sometimes ppl make mistaks when angry. i just want to cover my rear end....

[AmericaninQuebec]

I wouldn't freak yourself out. Two things:

1) Even if you gave it to him, you did not give him permission to use it to open accounts in your name, etc. Therefore if he tries to do so he is still committing fraud and identity theft. Hopefully he does not do so, but don't think you're not protected just because you had shared this info with him. I only asked if you had given it to him, because it just means he didn't steal this information from you. It doesn't mean he has the right to use it. I would still contact the local police and ask them if you have any grounds for recovering that info or if you can at least lodge an official statement with the police or RCMP in case anything does ever happen. Then you would have further proof that you did not give him permission to use that information.

2) You can withdraw your sponsorship up until the day the person lands as a PR. You need to contact CIC and let them know that while you previously filled out the forms that your ex now has, you no longer want to sponsor him. Ask them who to send the statement to in writing so that it's on file in case he ever does try and use that paperwork to get PR.

Sorry to freak you out. I hope that he doesn't do any of the above, and instead leaves you in peace!

[AllisonVSC]

Sorry for all the worry and concern you're experiencing. I'm curious what your ex's immigration status is...visitor, temporary worker, etc or is he even in Canada?

In addition to protecting yourself financially you should report the potential for immigration fraud (since he has all the paperwork). You will find information here.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/protection/fraud/report.asp

Best wishes.

[tabby]

thanx everyone, feeling more at ease now.

he has been here on a trv, (before we married). but is not in canada right now.  he applied to get another trv, but was refused,  cos we got married he has more ties to here then his home country.

thanx for the link too. i'll check it and make some more calls.

i would like to think he wont create a problem, i am 5 months pregnant, and maybe its all just the hormones working over time getting me paranoid,lol.

he never lied or cheated me in anyway (that i know of), but i just want to cover all aspects, i will have a baby to support soon enough. and dont need any surprises.


thanx alot for your help everyone. 

[tabby]

so i just got of the phone with immigration, got an address to send in a statement/declaration to avoid the possible fraudulent application for sponsorship. thank you everyone for your help.

good luck to you all who are still waiting and congrats to everyone that had landed in the arms of your loved ones.