Beware of identity theft: Province

The provincial government says stolen birth certificates act as a gateway for more serious crimes. And it wants people in the province to take more caution in safeguarding personal documents.

Monday, the province of Ontario launched a new public awareness campaign.

At one of the busiest intersections in downtown Toronto, among the massive glaring billboards advertising clothing and electronic companies, hangs a sign with a montage of faces over an Ontario birth certificate.

The slogan: Your Identity Equals Your Freedom: Don't Be a Victim of Identity Theft.

Tim Hudak is the minister launching the public awareness campaign. He says identity fraud is the fastest growing crime in the province.

"In the past six months, about $4 million has been identified as being lost via identity theft."

Hudak says people should only carry their birth certificate with them, when travelling or when applying for documents such as a driver's license.

Inspector Mike Federico says nearly every fraud begins with identity theft, frequently a birth certificate.

"That opens doors for the fraudster to acquire bank accounts, credit, access to government services."

The government has recently brought in new tougher laws to crack down on identity theft, including penalties as high as $50,000.