Someone opened a card in your name, filed a tax return with your SIN, or used your stolen ID. Identity theft is reported in several places at once, and the order matters: stop the money first, then build the paper trail that lets you clear your name.
Step by Step
1Call your bank and card issuers. Use the number on the back of your card. Ask them to lock or close the affected accounts, change your passwords and PINs, and flag your file for fraud.
2Report it to the police. File with your local police service. Many, including Toronto Police, take fraud reports online. Outside a city force, call the OPP non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122. Write down the report number. Banks and credit bureaus will ask for it.
3Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Call 1-888-495-8501 or report online. The CAFC links reports across Canada, even when you didn't lose money.
4Protect your credit file. Ask Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion (1-800-663-9980) for a fraud alert, or place a free security freeze. Contact each bureau separately.
5Get your credit reports. Both bureaus give free reports. Dispute every account or inquiry you don't recognize, and include your police report number.
6Replace stolen documents. Use the contacts in the table below for your SIN, driver's licence, health card and passport.
7Keep a log. Note every call: date, name, reference number and what was promised. Identity theft can take months to clear.
Who to Call
| What was stolen or misused | Contact |
|---|---|
| Bank account or credit card Your bank's fraud line | Number on your card |
| Police report OPP non-emergency | 1-888-310-1122 |
| Any fraud or identity theft Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre | 1-888-495-8501 |
| Credit file Equifax Canada | 1-800-465-7166 |
| Credit file TransUnion Canada | 1-800-663-9980 |
| Social Insurance Number Service Canada | 1-866-274-6627 |
| Tax return or benefits Canada Revenue Agency | 1-800-959-8281 |
| Passport Passport Program | 1-800-567-6868 |
| Driver's licence or health card ServiceOntario | ontario.ca |
Ontario's Free Credit Freeze
A fraud alert asks lenders to check that it's really you. A security freeze goes further: the bureau stops sharing your file with new lenders, so no one can open credit in your name. Since July 1, 2026, Ontario residents can place one for free with Equifax and TransUnion. The catch: it blocks you too, so you have to lift it before you apply for a loan, a card or a phone plan.
Put the dates, accounts and report numbers in one clear letter to your bank or credit bureau.
Draft It With Asya →Frequently Asked
How do I report identity theft in Ontario?
Call your bank and card issuers first to lock accounts. Then file a report with your local police (or the OPP non-emergency line, 1-888-310-1122) and get the report number, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501), and place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax and TransUnion.
Do I need a police report for identity theft?
Yes, get one. Banks, credit bureaus and government offices often ask for the police report number before they remove fraudulent accounts or replace documents. Many Ontario police services take fraud reports online.
Can I freeze my credit in Ontario?
Yes. Since July 1, 2026, Ontario residents can place a free security freeze on their credit file with Equifax Canada and TransUnion. You have to contact each bureau separately, and you must lift the freeze before you apply for credit yourself.
What should I do if someone stole my SIN?
Report it to the police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, then contact Service Canada (1-866-274-6627). Check your credit reports and your CRA My Account for activity you don't recognize. A new SIN is only issued if there is proof it was used fraudulently.
Someone filed a tax return in my name. Who do I call?
Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281. The CRA can put a lock on your account and review returns or benefit applications filed in your name.
Rebuilding after the first week
The first phone calls stop the damage; the following months repair it. Keep a log of every account you closed, every reference number you were given and each date you followed up. Check both credit reports again after a month and then every few months, in case a new account appears.
Change passwords for email first, since a compromised inbox lets someone reset every other account. Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever it is offered. If a document such as a driver's licence was taken, ask the issuing office how to replace it and whether the old number can be flagged.
Telling the people who need to know
After the urgent calls, tell your employer's payroll if your SIN was exposed, your insurer if a policy was affected, and any landlord or lender who might receive fraudulent applications. Written notices with the police report number attached make it easier for each of them to flag your file.
Sources & Verification
Contacts and rules in this article come from official sources:
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- FCAC — Fraud alerts on your credit report
- Equifax Canada — Credit lock for Ontarians (July 1, 2026)
- Service Canada — Protect your SIN
- Ontario Provincial Police
This article is general information, not legal advice. Read how ComplaintCA checks its facts on the About page.