Scams in Canada

Find Canada-specific reporting and recovery resources after a suspected fraud, identity theft or financial scam.

Protect funds and accounts first

Call 911 if there is immediate danger. Otherwise, contact the relevant bank, credit union, card issuer, money-transfer business, crypto platform or payment service through a verified official channel. Ask about freezes, recalls, reversals or fraud procedures, and save evidence of every contact.

Report through official Canadian routes

Use the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre / RCMP Report Cybercrime and Fraud portal or call CAFC at 1-888-495-8501. Report money loss or identity theft to local police and keep the file number. Misleading marketing can also be reported to the Competition Bureau.

Secure identity information

Change compromised and reused passwords, enable multi-factor authentication and monitor financial accounts. If identity details were exposed, consider contacting Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada using their official websites. Retain screenshots, receipts, phone numbers, messages, URLs and transaction details.

Common Canadian patterns

Be cautious of spoofed bank, government, police, employer and service-provider contacts; romance-investment schemes; crypto wallet-approval phishing; AI-enabled impersonation; and follow-on recovery scams. English and French resources and provincial procedures may differ, so confirm current guidance directly.