If money left your account without your permission, or you gave your card details to a scammer, the first call is to your bank. The faster it hears from you, the more it can stop, and the stronger your claim for a refund.
Step by Step
1Call your bank's fraud line now. Use the number on the back of your card or the bank's official website, never a number from a text, email or caller. Ask the bank to block the card and flag the account.
2Open a fraud claim and get a reference number. Note the date and time of your call and every transaction you didn't make. For debit cards, the bank must respond to your report within 10 business days.
3Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the police. Call the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or use its online reporting system. A police report number often helps with bank and insurance claims.
4Secure your accounts. Change your online banking password, turn on two-step verification, and check your credit report for accounts you didn't open.
5If the bank won't reimburse you, escalate. Make a formal complaint. Banks must deal with it within 56 days. After that, you can take it to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) for free.
Fraud Lines for Canada's Big Five Banks
| Bank | Call |
|---|---|
| RBC Royal Bank Credit cards: 1-800-769-2512 | 1-800-769-2511 |
| TD Canada Trust Credit cards: 1-800-983-8472 | 1-866-222-3456 |
| CIBC Credit cards: 1-800-465-4653 | 1-800-465-2422 |
| BMO | 1-877-225-5266 |
| Scotiabank Fraud team, 24/7 | 1-866-625-0561 |
Numbers are from each bank's official fraud page. If in doubt, call the number printed on the back of your card. For credit card disputes that aren't fraud, see our chargeback guide.
Your Rights After You Report
Debit cards. Under the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services, you aren't liable for unauthorized use after you report your card lost or stolen. If the bank won't reimburse you in full, it must show that you contributed to the unauthorized use.
Complaints. Federally regulated banks must resolve a complaint within 56 days and give you a final written response. You then have 180 days to go to OBSI, Canada's only external complaint body for banking.
Write down what happened, the transactions and your reference number in one clear complaint.
Draft It With Asya →Frequently Asked
Can I report fraud to CIBC online?
The fastest way is by phone, because the bank can block your card right away. CIBC lists 1-800-465-2422 for debit and banking fraud and 1-800-465-4653 for credit card fraud. You can also use the number on the back of your card.
Will my bank refund unauthorized debit transactions?
Under the Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services, you are not liable for unauthorized use after you report a card lost or stolen. The bank must respond to your report within 10 business days, and if it won't reimburse you in full, it must show you contributed to the unauthorized use.
What if my bank refuses to reimburse me?
Make a formal complaint to the bank. Federally regulated banks must deal with it within 56 days. If you're still not satisfied, or the 56 days pass, you can take it to the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI) for free, within 180 days of the bank's final response.
Should I also report fraud to the police?
Yes. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online, and to your local police. A police report number is often needed for bank and insurance claims.
Sources & Verification
Figures, rules and phone numbers in this article come from official sources:
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — The rise of fraud (2026)
- Canadian Code of Practice for Consumer Debit Card Services
- FCAC — The Financial Consumer Protection Framework
- OBSI — Terms of Reference updated for Bank Act change
- RBC — Report fraud · TD — Disputing debit card charges · CIBC — Report fraud · BMO — Report fraud · Scotiabank — Report an incident
This article is general information, not legal advice. Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.