How to protect yourself from identity theft in 2026

Samantha Kohn, Freelance Blogger

September 21, 2026

This post is sponsored by Equifax.

Identity theft is a rising concern for many Canadians. Not only have we seen more fraud across the country, but the way that fraud looks is changing too.

Fraudsters are still using familiar tricks, like fake emails, suspicious links, and calls pretending to be from your bank and the CRA. But AI is making those tricks harder to spot by helping scammers write better messages, copy voices, create fake videos, and build more convincing stories.

Now this doesn’t mean you should panic over every text message, but it does make it important to ensure your identity protection habits are in check.

Key takeaways

Canadians reported about $351 million in fraud losses to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in the first six months of 2026
AI scams, deepfakes, and synthetic identities are making fraud harder to spot
Good habits still matter, but monitoring tools can help catch warning signs you may miss
If you think your identity has been stolen, act quickly and document everything

What’s changed about identity theft risk in Canada in 2026?

The biggest change is that fraud is becoming more convincing. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says fraudsters continue to use impersonation, urgency, convincing communication, and trust to get money or personal information. In the first half of 2026, Canadians reported about $351 million in fraud losses.

Canadians are also worried about how their personal data could be used. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada found that 91% of Canadians were concerned about their personal information being used to try to steal their identity.

So let’s talk about easing those concerns and protecting yourself from identity theft in 2026.

How are AI scams and deepfakes being used to steal identities?

AI scams work because they can make fraud feel personal and believable. A scam email used to be easier to spot. Now, AI can help fraudsters write messages that sound like a real bank, employer, delivery company, government agency, or even someone you know.

Deepfakes add another layer. A deepfake is AI-made audio, video, or image that imitates a real person. Scammers can use this to impersonate a family member, financial representative, business contact, police officer, or government worker.

Synthetic identity fraud is another risk. This happens when fraudsters combine real personal information, like a stolen SIN, with fake details to create a new identity. That fake identity may be used to apply for credit, open accounts, or commit other fraud.

What are the everyday habits that best protect your identity?

The best identity theft protection starts with habits that make it harder for fraudsters to use your information.

Use unique passwords. Use different passwords for email, banking, credit cards, and shopping accounts. A password manager can help you create and store strong passwords.
Turn on two-factor authentication. This adds a second step before someone can log in.
Be careful with your SIN. Only share it when there’s a real need, like a formal credit, tax, employment, or government process. Don’t send it by email, text, or chat.
Verify unexpected messages. If someone calls saying they’re from your bank, hang up and call the number on the back of your card. If an email says your account is locked, go directly to the official website instead of clicking the link.
Review statements often. Look for small charges, new payees, unfamiliar transfers, or anything that doesn’t look right.
Limit what you share online. Birthdays, pet names, schools, job details, and vacation photos can help scammers build a more convincing digital profile of you.
Act quickly if your wallet is lost. Cancel or replace cards, contact your bank, and watch for unusual activity tied to your accounts.
Use a credit and identity monitoring service. A service like Equifax Complete Protection monitors for signs of identity fraud, alerts you to key changes, and provides support if identity theft happens.

How monitoring tools can help protect your identity

Good habits matter, but they can’t fully prevent your information from being exposed. A company you use could have a data breach, your email address could appear on the dark web, or someone could try to open credit in your name.

That’s where tools like Equifax Complete Protection can help. It’s a multi-layered credit and cybersecurity protection service designed to help Canadians spot signs of identity fraud faster, protect their online activity, and get support if identity theft happens.

What should you do if you think your identity has been stolen?

If you think your identity has been stolen, move quickly.

Contact your bank, credit card issuer, or lender to secure or freeze affected accounts.
Change your passwords, starting with email, banking, credit card, and government accounts.
Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police.
Contact both major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert and inquire about a credit lock.
Document everything, including dates, emails, letters, screenshots, reference numbers, and names.
Use identity restoration support if you have it. Cleaning up identity theft can involve lenders, credit bureaus, government agencies, replacement cards, and new ID documents. It’s very helpful to have an expert in your corner.

The bottom line

There’s a lot you can do to protect yourself from identity theft in 2026, including strong passwords, two-factor authentication, careful SIN use, smart online habits, and monitoring tools.

But at the end of the day, even the best practices don’t completely guarantee your safety. Helpful tools like Equifax Complete Protection add another layer of security by combining credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, social media monitoring, device protection, and identity restoration support in one service. No tool can stop every scam, but the right monitoring can help you spot trouble sooner.

Categories	Credit Scores Personal Finance
Tags	credit score cyber protection fraud Identity theft