Personal Cyber Crime is dramatically rising in Canada, and the scammers may be coming for you.
Did you know the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) estimates that Canadians have lost more than $100 million due to online
fraud? Even more troubling, the CAFC also estimates 1 in 5 people will fall victim to identity theft. When someone's identity is
stolen, the fraud can follow them for years.
Whether it’s an investment or online shopping scam, criminals can pose as reputable businesses and even government
officials. Your private information is what they’re after. With just a few personal details, criminals can force you
into transferring them money, committing credit card fraud or demanding ransoms for infected laptops.
Hub's robust personal cyber policy protects you against the basics as well as covering you against broader threats such as cyber crime,
cyber bullying, and cyber stalking. The threats are real.
Cyber insurance has traditionally been marketed to businesses, but the cyber crime landscape has changed. Increased
technology at home means that individuals are now targets too. That’s why HUB’s personal cyber protection offers best
in class coverage at competitive pricing. We’ve partnered with Lloyd’s of London and Cyberscout, a leader in cyber
insurance services that provides expert guidance and support you will need should you become the victim of a cyber crime.
Dark Web monitoring included!
Is your personal information on the Dark Web? It’s a shadowy part of the Internet where cybercriminals meet anonymously to
illegally buy, sell and trade everything from illicit goods to private information that can be used for identity theft.
If you don’t know your email address or account numbers are out there, how can you protect yourself? That’s where dark
web monitoring comes in.
Our cyber experts continually sweep the Dark Web for your personal details and notify you if potential threats are found so
action can be taken. It’s just one more way a HUB Personal Cyber Insurance Policy helps you stay a step ahead of cybercriminals!
Could this happen to you? Consider these real-life cases:
*Note: Names are changed to protect the identity/source
Thieves use stolen ID for retail therapy
Katie Smith* worked for a large manufacturer, was saving for retirement and being a good neighbour when she
received a voicemail from a department store about activity on her newly opened account. The only problem
was she didn’t have a credit card from that store. Someone had used her CRA account,
date of birth and address to open an account there and at 14 other retail stores, ultimately running up
$18,000 in fraudulent charges in her name.
Ransomware renders laptop unusable
A ransomware virus infected a client’s laptop. The criminals demanded a $1,500 ransom to recover their device.
Cyberscout negotiated with the hacker. Once proof was provided that the data could be decrypted if the demand
was met, payment was negotiated and settled through Bitcoin payment facility. The data was recovered for
$1,950 (ransom and $450 in professional fees). The client did not have to pay anything out of pocket as their
personal cyber policy covered the cost.
The disappearing $300,000 home loan
John and Nancy Ritter* were set to buy a new home. You can imagine the horror when their home loan funds
suddenly disappeared. A thief used stolen personal information to initiate a fraudulent wire transfer of
$300,000 from the couple’s credit union to another bank account. Wire transfer fraud is a growing problem
and wealthy individuals are one-and-a-half times more likely to fall victim. In the Ritters’ case, with the
help of Cyberscout, the funds were recouped.
ID theft scammers prey on seniors
Eileen and Laurence Cashman* carefully planned their retirement, securing an affordable apartment in a seniors
building. They didn’t know their home address would make them more vulnerable to identity thieves.
A temporary employee working in their building stole their CRA account and used them to
open emails and online Social Security accounts, view their bank account balances, and access their life
insurance. Seniors are often vulnerable because they have nest eggs, are less computer savvy and more trusting.
Cyberscout protected the Cashman’s identity and credit.
This Casanova was an imposter
Paul Siqueiros* knows his way around Facebook. He updates his own personal page, and as a realtor,
has a company page to attract new clients. He’s very social. But he never dreamed how much in demand
he was until more than 50 women reached out to him asking: “Is this the man I’ve been dating online?”
A scammer who had befriended Paul on his business page had used a "social bot"— software that appears
to be a person on social networks — to create a profile on several dating sites.
The fake profile had Raul's name, photos of him and of his children, as well as personal details.
Some women were so smitten they obliged requests to send the scammer money via Western Union.
Cyberscout used Siqueiros’ story to help educate others.
Swimming pool swindle
The Smiths* believed they were paying a contactor to install a swimming pool at their home.
The invoice they received had been manipulated by fraudsters, and funds were instead sent to
the criminal’s bank account. Cyberscout support was needed to help secure the reimbursement of the lost funds.
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With HUB’s personal cyber protection, you could be covered by these threats:
Computers, laptops, tablets and smart home devices can be exposed to viruses, malware,
and spyware that can slow them down or render them useless. This can happen by opening
an attachment from an unknown email, clicking on online ads or downloading unofficial software.
If infected, you could face loss or damage to your files and systems. These are costly to repair or replace.
It doesn’t have to be for ransomware, this coverage will also pay for extortion amounts
that will lead to the safe retrieval of sensitive information. Data such as contact information
or photos on your cell phone or computer.
Identity theft includes everything from cheque forgery and the use of stolen credit cards
to sophisticated scams in which an impostor adopts another person’s identity through personal
information to gain access to their assets. Cloaked in your stolen identity, a fraudster can
cash your cheques, raid your bank accounts, bilk your credit card company and even load a big
mortgage on your house.
Being coerced into sending money to a criminal posing as a company or other reputable organization.
A criminal obtaining your credit card or creating a new one in your name and making fraudulent charges.
With the growth of e-commerce comes the increased risk of fraudulent websites.
When payment has been made, but an order has not been fulfilled, an insured’s
financial loss can be covered
All the contact information you keep electronically such as friends’ phone numbers,
addresses and birthdays is a treasure trove of information for criminals.
In the wrong hands, it can be used for malicious intent.
When you or a household family member receive two or more harassing, intimidating or persistent
electronic communications, the coverage can help alleviate the threat by providing legal, technical
and other support services
Malware infecting smart home devices