Stolen Identity Versus Synthetic Identity
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre separates two steps: identity theft is stealing someone’s personal information, and identity fraud is using it, often to commit another crime such as opening accounts or obtaining credit.1 On a rental application the second step is what you see.
| Pattern | What it is | How it tends to show up |
|---|---|---|
| Stolen identity | A real person’s name, date of birth and credit history, used by someone else | A strong credit file, but the ID photo, phone, email or employer do not fit the person in front of you |
| Synthetic identity | A new identity built from a mix of real and fake details4 | A thin or young credit file, details that do not appear together anywhere else, documents that agree only with each other |
Both are crimes. Obtaining or possessing another person’s identity information to commit fraud is identity theft under the Criminal Code, and fraudulently personating another person to gain an advantage or obtain property is identity fraud.5,6
Checking the ID
Seeing government photo ID is the first check, and you usually do not need to keep a copy. The Privacy Commissioner says a landlord asking to see a driver’s licence to confirm identity likely does not need to take one.7
- Compare the photo with the person, in person or on a live video call, not with a selfie they send later.
- Check that the name and date of birth match the application exactly, including middle names and spelling.
- Check the expiry date and that the document type makes sense for the applicant’s story.
- Look at the physical card if you can, not only a scan or photo of it. Images are far easier to edit than a card.
- For an Ontario driver’s licence, the province offers a free online check of a licence’s status.8 A valid status shows the number is real, not that the person holding the card is its owner.
Do not ask for a Social Insurance Number to confirm identity. The Privacy Commissioner says a landlord cannot require it, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission says it can reveal information, such as refugee status, that exposes applicants to discrimination.7,9
Matching the ID to the Credit File and Income
Identity fraud is easiest to see where independent sources meet. A fraudster can produce a matching ID, pay stub and letter, because they made all three. What they cannot easily control is a record that comes from somewhere else.
- Credit file versus ID. The name, date of birth and address history on a report you pulled should match the ID. A file whose addresses are all in another city, or whose recent inquiries suggest a burst of applications, deserves a question.
- Fraud alert. In Ontario a consumer can have a bureau add an alert asking anyone who sees the file to verify the person’s identity, with a number to call.10 Call that number before going further.
- Income versus identity. Pay from a connected payroll account or bank account should be in the applicant’s name. Deposits to an account in another name, or a payroll record that does not exist, break the story.
- Contact details. A phone number or email address that was created recently, or that belongs to someone else, is a common weak point.
- References. A previous landlord you found yourself should recognize the applicant’s name and describe the same tenancy.
A thin credit file is not a sign of fraud on its own. Newcomers, young people and people returning to work often have little or no credit history, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission says landlords should not reject applications for that reason.9 What matters is whether the sources you can check agree with each other, not whether the file is long.
PropTx Verify verifies ID as part of each screening and includes credit, payroll and bank data in one report, which makes a mismatch between them easier to spot. More on reading a supplied report is in fake credit reports.
What to Do if You Suspect Identity Fraud
Stop the process before any keys, deposits or signed leases change hands, and do not confront the applicant. Then:
- Keep what you have: the application, the documents, messages, and notes of what did not match. The Anti-Fraud Centre’s first step for any fraud is to gather the documents and messages.2
- Report to your local police and ask for a file number. The Anti-Fraud Centre says local police investigate and that victims should contact them as soon as possible.3,2
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. Witnesses can report as well as victims, and reports can be anonymous.3
- If you took a deposit by e-transfer or cheque, tell your bank.
- Decline the application in writing. If the decision relied on a credit report, the Consumer Reporting Act requires you to say so and, on request, name the agency.10
If the identity belongs to a real person, they are the victim, and the police report is how they learn about it. The Anti-Fraud Centre advises identity-fraud victims to contact both credit bureaus and flag their accounts.2
This page is general information, not legal advice. For a decision that turns on specific facts, talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal.
Questions
What Is a Synthetic Identity?
An identity built from a mix of real and fake personal details, rather than one stolen whole from a real person. It can carry a thin but genuine-looking credit file.4
Can a Landlord Keep a Copy of an Applicant’s ID?
Usually there is no need. The Privacy Commissioner says seeing a driver’s licence to confirm identity likely does not require taking a copy; record that you checked it instead.7
Where Do You Report Rental Application Identity Fraud?
To your local police, who investigate, and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca, which collects reports for law enforcement. Witnesses can report too.3
Is a Thin Credit File a Sign of Identity Fraud?
Not on its own. Newcomers and young people often have little credit history, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission says that should not be grounds for rejection.9
Sources
- Identity theft and fraud
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, What is identity theft?; What is identity fraud? (modified 2026-01-16). Accessed October 22, 2026.
- What to do if you’re a victim of fraud
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Collect your thoughts; Contact your financial institutions; Contact the police (modified 2026-01-16). Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Report fraud and cybercrime
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Report online; Why you should report fraud and cybercrime (modified 2025-11-27). Accessed October 22, 2026.
- What Is Synthetic Identity Fraud?
Equifax Canada, Definition, March 12, 2024. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46
Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada, s. 402.2(1), identity theft; current to 2026-09-30. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46
Justice Laws Website, Government of Canada, s. 403(1), identity fraud. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Privacy in the landlord and tenant relationship
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Does a landlord require my Social Insurance Number (SIN)?; Can a landlord ask to see my driver’s licence? My tax information? My pay stubs?. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Driving and road safety
Government of Ontario, Driver records: Driver’s licence check. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Policy on human rights and rental housing, V. Identifying discrimination in rental housing
Ontario Human Rights Commission, s. 4.2.4 Credit history; s. 4.2.5 Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) information. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Consumer Reporting Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.33
Government of Ontario, e-Laws, ss. 10(7), 12.1 and 12.2; consolidated from July 1, 2026. Accessed October 22, 2026.
