Reporting incidents of fraud is of utmost importance to prevent further victimization. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, only a small percentage of fraud victims in Canada actually report the crime to the appropriate law enforcement agency. By coming forward, you are providing essential information to help authorities stop fraudsters and protect others from falling prey to fraudulent schemes.
If you suspect that you have been targeted by fraud, the following steps can help:
Step 1: Collect all relevant information about the suspected fraud. This may include the name of the person who approached you, the date of the incident, and any phone numbers, email addresses, or website URLs associated with the fraud. Keep all documentation such as receipts, cancelled cheques, copies of emails or text messages, shipping envelopes, and any printed or electronic copies of web pages. This information may be used as evidence during an investigation.
Step 2: Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. By reporting fraud or suspected fraud, you are ensuring that the police in your area are aware of the issue and can take appropriate action. If you have lost money in the fraud, it is particularly important to contact the police.
Step 3: Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or the Competition Bureau. You can contact the Fraud Reporting System at 1-888-495-8501 or file a report of a misleading or deceptive marketing practice with the Competition Bureau using the online complaint form.
Step 4: Notify the financial institution that transferred the money. If you have already sent money, it is important to notify the financial institution you sent it to, such as a money service business, a bank or credit union, a credit card company, or an Internet payment service provider.
Step 5: Notify the website where the fraud took place, if applicable. If the fraud occurred online, such as on a social media platform, classified ad website, or dating website, report the incident directly to the website using the "report abuse" or "report an ad" links provided.
Step 6: Place fraud alerts on your accounts and check your credit report. To protect yourself from further fraud, contact both of Canada's national credit bureaus, Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada, to request a free credit report and ask that a fraud alert be placed on your file. This can be done online through the respective websites.
If you suspect that you have been targeted by fraud, the following steps can help:
Step 1: Collect all relevant information about the suspected fraud. This may include the name of the person who approached you, the date of the incident, and any phone numbers, email addresses, or website URLs associated with the fraud. Keep all documentation such as receipts, cancelled cheques, copies of emails or text messages, shipping envelopes, and any printed or electronic copies of web pages. This information may be used as evidence during an investigation.
Step 2: Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency. By reporting fraud or suspected fraud, you are ensuring that the police in your area are aware of the issue and can take appropriate action. If you have lost money in the fraud, it is particularly important to contact the police.
Step 3: Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or the Competition Bureau. You can contact the Fraud Reporting System at 1-888-495-8501 or file a report of a misleading or deceptive marketing practice with the Competition Bureau using the online complaint form.
Step 4: Notify the financial institution that transferred the money. If you have already sent money, it is important to notify the financial institution you sent it to, such as a money service business, a bank or credit union, a credit card company, or an Internet payment service provider.
Step 5: Notify the website where the fraud took place, if applicable. If the fraud occurred online, such as on a social media platform, classified ad website, or dating website, report the incident directly to the website using the "report abuse" or "report an ad" links provided.
Step 6: Place fraud alerts on your accounts and check your credit report. To protect yourself from further fraud, contact both of Canada's national credit bureaus, Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada, to request a free credit report and ask that a fraud alert be placed on your file. This can be done online through the respective websites.
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