PRIVACY
Your Privacy is Important to us. Canadian Tire Bank abides by the Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited Privacy Charter.
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited and its family of companies including Canadian Tire Financial Services Limited, Canadian Tire Bank, Canadian Tire Real Estate Limited, Mark's Work Wearhouse Limited (Mark’s), FGL Sports Ltd. (FGL), Canadian Tire Petroleum and PartSource, are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information obtained by reason of your doing business with us.
Our Privacy Charter explains the types of customer personal information we collect, how it is used and the steps we take to ensure your personal information is handled appropriately.
Each member of the Canadian Tire family of companies collects information necessary to do business with you. For more specific details on what information each company may collect and how we use it, we refer you to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.
Privacy Charter The Privacy Charter is our commitment to you. It is our organization wide policy on how all companies in the Canadian Tire family protect your personal information. Privacy Statement Our privacy statement provides a quick reference to the key privacy points of the Privacy Charter. It also provides you information on your choices and important contact information.
Privacy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Our FAQs provide answers to important questions you may have regarding your information and your privacy. The FAQs provide additional detail on what information is collected by each company. The information may vary according to company. If there are further questions you would like answered, feel free to contact us anytime.
Easy Ways to Help Protect Your Identity and Help You From Becoming a Victim of Fraud
Don't share your personal information
- Beware of random solicitations for your personal information such as passwords, date of birth, Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- Store your SIN in a safe place at home (not in your wallet or purse)
- Select a PIN that is easy to remember and hard for others to guess
- Do not write down or share your PIN or passwords. Your financial institution uses this information to identify you during financial transactions
When purchasing from a 3rd party website, check the company's homepage for a list of authorized retailers.
- If the retailer is not listed you may be buying counterfeit goods or materials that may not be as described.
Be savvy to offers that appear too good to be true
- Fraudsters entice victims by seemingly providing something for nothing. This makes it more important than ever to be wary of all unexpected solicitation by persons you meet online. Any fraudulent activity should be reported to the authorities as soon as possible.
Review your monthly statements carefully
- Watch for suspicious transactions on your credit card and financial account statements
- If you don't receive your statements, call your financial institution immediately
- Shred all documents and monthly statements that you wish to discard
Canadian Tire Bank is your partner in protecting your personal information, and will not initiate contact to verify or update personal information. Any such request that you receive via email or over the Internet is not legitimate.
If you suspect you may be a victim of identity theft or another financial scam, please contact your bank immediately for assistance.
GIFT CARD SCAMS
If you are being asked to buy a gift card to pay someone, STOP! It’s a scam.
Gift cards are for gifts, not payments. Anyone who demands payment by gift card is always a scammer.
If you’re feeling pressured into buying gift cards: STOP. HANG UP THE PHONE. Take a moment to calm down, and if you still have concerns look up the correct information for the company or agency before calling.
No legitimate company or agency will ever ask you to make a payment by gift card.
– The government will never ask you to buy gift cards to pay taxes or make a payment
– The police will never ask you to buy gift cards to pay a fine
– banks will never ask you to buy gift cards to store your money
– tech support from a company will never ask you to buy a gift card to pay to fix your computer
– A legitimate business or professional will never demand gift cards for an emergency payment or to claim a prize
Already Purchased Gift Cards As Part Of A Scam?
– STOP and don’t go any further
– Do not text or send photos of the gift card numbers or the PINs that go with them
– Do not read off the numbers to anyone
– Contact your bank as soon as possible, using the number on the back of your debit or credit card
VERIFICATION CODES
A verification code is for your use only. DO NOT SHARE IT WITH ANYONE. No business will call you to request that code. It’s a scam.
What is a Verification Code?
If you are updating your information or completing an action, a business, bank, or merchant may text or email you a one-time code to verify your identity. This is for your use only, to complete the action you initiated. No one will call you to ask for this code.
What if I Get a Verification Code I Didn’t Request?
If you receive a code from a business but you aren’t shopping, logging in, or phoning them right now, there is a chance someone else is trying to use your account.
Stay calm, as long as you don’t share the code with anyone, your account cannot be accessed. Immediately contact the Bank (using the number on the back of your card) or Business directly that sent you the code to let them know what has happened and follow their advice to secure your account. If someone calls and asks you to tell them the verification code: STOP. HANG UP THE PHONE. It’s a scam.
ROMANCE SCAMS
Unfortunately, people aren’t always who we think they are. Stay alert, and on the lookout for these RED FLAGS in potential partners you meet online.
If you’re feeling suspicious or uncomfortable in the relationship, TALK TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST. Pay attention to your friends and family if they say they’re concerned about your new love interest.
Progression of a Romance Fraud
- Their online profile seems perfect for you, and they are romantic about you quickly. The stories they tell (business, family, other situations) are to gain your trust for urgent requests weeks or months later.
- The false romance continues until the scammer is certain you feel protective towards them and you will be upset if they seem distressed.
- Maintaining the false reality is important, and the scammer will manipulate you into hiding the romance until you are isolated from anyone who could spoil their plan.
- The scammer will mention earlier stories and be very distressed about something going wrong. Immediate money will be the solution to the problem, and if you are reluctant the scammer will use emotional manipulation (you’re hurting them, you don’t love them).
- The scammer wants the money you spend to be secret and frames it as part of the romantic relationship and no one else’s business. Talk of marriage can be used to divert your attention.
- If you express concern about your money the scammer will frame it as you being untrusting and hurtful to them. The scammer wants you to believe that you are investing in a shared future.
- There may be fictitious third parties vouching for the scammer’s stories (claiming to be their lawyer, their doctor).
- The romance ends when either the victim breaks out of the false reality, or there are no more funds to drain.
Things To NEVER DO in an Online Relationship
No matter how long you’ve known them or how much you trust them:
- Never send them any money
- Never allow them to access your bank account
- Never transfer money on their behalf
- Never take out a loan for them
- Never provide copies of your personal documents, such as drivers license or passport
- Never invest your money on their behalf or on their advice
- Never purchase and send the codes on gift cards (such as iTunes)
- Never agree to receive or send parcels on their behalf (such as cell phones or laptops)
- STOP and don’t communicate with that person anymore
- Don’t be ashamed. Break the silence and start telling people what has been happening.
- Tell family, friends, the police, your banks, anyone who can support you in getting free of the scammers’ control.
PAYMENT SCAMS
There are many ways that scammers can trick you into thinking a payment is legitimate. Below are some examples to look out for, but always TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS and never share your banking information with anyone!
Just because a payment is showing in your account doesn’t mean it is legitimate. It could be cancelled or clawed back at any time.
Payment Error Scam
If a payment is sent to you by someone who isn’t a close friend or family member, and they claim the payment or the amount was in error, DO NOT send money back to the person.
For a genuine error the person should work with their bank on a reversal. If you’re in doubt, call your bank directly and ask for advice on how to proceed.
Overpayment Scam
A buyer of an item you are selling pays you more than the selling price and asks you to send back a cheque with the difference. If you do, the scammer gets your chequing account number and personal information. And, most likely, the original payment will bounce. This type of fraud is commonly found on online bulletin boards where items are bought or sold.
Sale of Merchandise Scam(s)
There are many things to watch out for when selling items online.
- You get a notification that claims the payment is pending, and will only be released when you provide a tracking number for the goods. By the time you enter the tracking number, you'll have already shipped the merchandise only to learn that the payment notification was a fake.
- You may be targeted with links that are actually a request for payment, where your money is withdrawn and sent to the requestor. Only accept money transfers from someone you know and read carefully to confirm you aren’t sending money.
- Accepting a cheque as a form of payment is high-risk. A cheque may be stolen, altered, or counterfeit, and the fraud uncovered days or weeks after the cheque initially clears.
Purchasing of Merchandise Scam(s)
Shopping online can be convenient, but there are a few things to watch out for. A good thing to remember is that if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Always make purchases from companies or individuals that you know by reputation or from a past experience. Be aware if a seller has limited or no reviews. If you are unsure, do your research first.
- Be wary of sites with spelling or grammatical errors.
- Never make a side deal outside of a buying site even if you are offered a better price or faster shipping.
‘You Have Money Waiting’ Text Scam
- You may receive a notification that tells you a money transfer is waiting to be deposited into your account. When you click to deposit the funds into your account, you will be taken to a fake site to enter your account details. Scammers now have your account and login information.
- Government agencies, utilities, or merchants will never text you to send a refund or cash back.
Charity and Donation Scams
- There are many different ways that a scammer can reach you pretending to be a charity including telemarketing, emails and text messages. Do your research before making any donations. You can always hang up and call the charity back directly or visit their official website.
- A reputable charity will never pressure you to give right now. Your donation will be welcome whenever you choose to make it.
- Don’t provide any personal information to the scammers including social insurance number, date of birth or your bank account number.
- Don’t make charitable donations via gift card or wire transfer.
- Don’t click on any unsolicited links in emails, and don’t e-transfer or donate via text without first confirming the phone number on the charity’s official website.
Impersonation Scams
Scammers may try to collect information by impersonating a customer security agent and faking the caller ID. If a caller asks for your card details or your PIN, hang up and take a moment. You can call the Bank (using the number on the back of your card) to report frauds and scams.
| RECOGNIZING SCAMS – PHISHING, SMISHING & VISHING | |
|---|---|
| GENERAL INFORMATION |
New scams are invented every day. Someone could try to scam you by email (phishing), SMS to your cell phone (smishing), or a scam voice call (vishing). Figuring out what's a scam can be tough, because the businesses you deal with, including CTFS, may also try to reach you by email, SMS, or voice call.
|
| PHISHING | |
| ABOUT PHISHING | Phishing is a type of scam when somebody is trying to trick you into giving your personal information to them. People have been tricked into giving such things as credit card numbers, PINs, passwords and birth dates by these fake emails.
These emails may look real and could have brand name logos that you recognize but may not be from the real company. |
| EXAMPLES |  |
| SMISHING | |
| ABOUT SMISHING | SMISHING is short for SMS Phishing. It is a type of phishing scam where somebody sends fake text messages instead of emails.
These text messages will claim to be from a real company that you could know and do business with but they might not be from the real company. |
| EXAMPLES |
|
| VISHING | |
Vishing (or voice phishing) is the voice version of phishing and smishing. It is a way of tricking people over a telephone system to get access to personal or financial information.
These text messages will claim to be from a real company that you could know and do business with but they might not be from the real company. |
|
| EXAMPLES | Example 1: |
REPORT SUSPICIOUS COMMUNICATION |
|
In the event you suspect you've received a phishing e-mail, smishing text or vishing call please contact Canadian Tire Bank immediately and talk to our Fraud Security Representatives at 1-800-459-6415. |
|
SITE SECURITY: HOW YOU'RE PROTECTED
Security Features
- Customer authentication prevents unauthorized access to your data by asking questions that only you know the answers to
- Phishing protection ensures you are not providing personal information on fraudulent web sites (phishing is the act of setting up fake emails and web sites to "phish" for someone else's account information)
- 128-bit encryption provides state-of-the-art protection for your personal and financial information, so you can feel secure
Customer Authentication
Before you access your account, you must first register it to help protect against fraud.
- Simply answer a few questions based on information nobody else will be able to answer
- Since only you will know this information, we can help ensure that nobody other than you is accessing your account information online
Anti-Phishing Features
- To protect you against phishing scams, we'll ask you to set up a unique combination of information including challenge questions, an image and a personalized caption (eg. Camping is great)
- Look for you challenge question when you log in. (If you feel your computer is secure, you can register it and skip your challenge question)
- When you see your image and unique caption, it confirms that you're on our secure web site
IMPORTANT: If you don't see you personalized challenge question, image or caption when you first sign on, do not provide any login information.
Site Encryption
All your personal and financial information is encrypted before it travels between your computer and ours. That way it can't be intercepted, read or changed by unauthorized users.
- We use 128-bit encryption, the strongest protection available to keep your data secure
- You will need to upgrade your browser if it only supports "weaker" encryption technologies like 40-bit or 56-bit
- To ensure you have a secure connection, look for the encryption key at the bottom of your browser window
For added protection, you will automatically be logged out of any online banking session that sits idle for 20 minutes.
SITE SECURITY: HOW YOU'RE PROTECTED
Security Features
- Customer authentication prevents unauthorized access to your data by asking questions that only you know the answers to
- Phishing protection ensures you are not providing personal information on fraudulent web sites (phishing is the act of setting up fake emails and web sites to "phish" for someone else's account information)
- 128-bit encryption provides state-of-the-art protection for your personal and financial information, so you can feel secure
Customer Authentication
Before you access your account, you must first register it to help protect against fraud.
- Simply answer a few questions based on information nobody else will be able to answer
- Since only you will know this information, we can help ensure that nobody other than you is accessing your account information online
Anti-Phishing Features
- To protect you against phishing scams, we'll ask you to set up a unique combination of information including challenge questions, an image and a personalized caption (eg. Camping is great)
- Look for you challenge question when you log in. (If you feel your computer is secure, you can register it and skip your challenge question)
- When you see your image and unique caption, it confirms that you're on our secure web site
IMPORTANT: If you don't see you personalized challenge question, image or caption when you first sign on, do not provide any login information.
Site Encryption
All your personal and financial information is encrypted before it travels between your computer and ours. That way it can't be intercepted, read or changed by unauthorized users.
- We use 128-bit encryption, the strongest protection available to keep your data secure
- You will need to upgrade your browser if it only supports "weaker" encryption technologies like 40-bit or 56-bit
- To ensure you have a secure connection, look for the encryption key at the bottom of your browser window
For added protection, you will automatically be logged out of any online banking session that sits idle for 20 minutes.