SIN error leaves employees worried
Some Molson Coors staff ’s social insurance numbers printed on T4 envelopes
An Oshawa man was surprised last week to learn that his social insurance number may have been compromised after it was printed on the outside of an envelope containing his tax form.
Jodi Harrison, a former Molson Coors employee, said he received a letter in the mail Thursday from Ceridian HCM, which handles other companies’ payrolls.
The letter informed Harrison that his social insurance number “may have been erroneously printed on the outside of your revised 2015 T4 tax form.”
“It was a surprise to get that in the mail,” said Harrison, who stopped working at Molson Coors this past year. “I honestly thought it was going to be like a T4 or something to do with my termination, but then I get that and it’s like, ‘What the hell?’ ”
Ceridian apologized for the error and said the incident was the result of human error affecting fewer than 70 employees at one company.
“As soon as Ceridian was made aware of the issue we took steps to notify the customer and worked with them to take all steps possible to protect the personal data of any affected individual, including providing credit monitoring and protection services,” chief marketing officer Kristina Cleary said in a statement.
“We sincerely regret this error occurred and any inconvenience it has caused our customer and the affected individuals.”
In the letter to Harrison, dated Feb. 23, the company said it believes the risk of identity theft is low.
It is offering those who may have been affected one year of free credit monitoring through an arrangement with Equifax Canada.
“Rest assured the protection of your personal information is top priority and we ensure that it is treated accordingly,” the letter states.
Harrison said the offer does little to satisfy his concerns.
“Who knows how many hands (the envelope) changed through before it got to me.” JODI HARRISON FORMER MOLSON COORS EMPLOYEE
“Everything about me was out there. It’s in my hands now but who knows how many hands it changed through before it got to me,” he said. “Really I don’t think there’s much I can do. I don’t know if there’s anything I should be doing.”
The Office of the Privacy Commis- sioner of Canada warns on its website that social insurance numbers can be used for identity theft.
“Along with other personal information, someone may be able to use your SIN to apply for a credit card or open a bank account, rent vehicles, equipment, or accommodation in your name, leaving you responsible for the bills, charges, bad cheques and taxes,” it states.
The privacy commissioner’s website also advises the public to shred documents containing their social insurance number.
If someone suspects their number is being used fraudulently, they should contact police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, one of Canada’s national credit bureaus and their bank.
Harrison said he’s angry with Ceridian’s response considering how much of his information may have been exposed. “Obviously my name and my address was on that envelope as well because it was addressed to me,” he said. “They’ve got quite a bit of info. Everything but my driver’s licence, pretty much, which I’m sure they can probably get.”