ComplaintCA · Consumer Alerts

Scammed by an Online Store? How to Report Online Shopping Fraud in Canada

Published October 3, 2026 · 4 min read
$11.7M
lost to merchandise fraud in Canada in 2025, across 2,596 reports to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — the 7th most-reported fraud of the year.

You paid, and the package never came. Or the website vanished, or the seller stopped answering. Here's who to report it to in Canada, in what order, and what each one can actually do for you.

Fraud, or Just a Bad Seller?

If a real business shipped late or sent the wrong item, that's a consumer dispute: ask the seller for a refund, then ask your card issuer for a chargeback. Our chargeback guide covers that. If the store or seller was never real, it's fraud, and you should report it too. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists these warning signs of a fake store:

The 6 Steps, In Order

1Save everything. Take screenshots of the website or listing, and keep your order confirmation, the payment record, and every message from the seller. Every step below asks for them.

2Call your bank or card issuer. Use the number on the back of your card. Ask for a dispute or chargeback, and ask them to block the card if your details were exposed. This is the only step that can get your money back, and it has a deadline.

3Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Call 1-888-495-8501 or use its online Fraud Reporting System. The CAFC doesn't investigate individual cases, but it shares what it learns with police across the country.

4Report to your local police on the non-emergency line. The Competition Bureau's advice is to always call the police if you lost money. A police file number also helps with bank and insurance claims.

5Report the company to the Competition Bureau if it used false or misleading advertising. File online or call 1-800-348-5358.

6Report the seller where you found it (use "report ad" or "report abuse" on the marketplace or social site). Then ask Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada to put a fraud alert on your credit file if you shared personal information.

The Competition Bureau's own guide to reporting fraud names the same agencies. We put your bank first because it's the only step that can get your money back, and that step has a time limit.

Who Does What

Where you reportWhat it does
Your bank or card issuerCan reverse the charge
Canadian Anti-Fraud CentreTracks fraud patterns
Local policeOpens an official file
Competition BureauInvestigates misleading ads
The marketplace or siteTakes down the listing

Get your evidence and timeline written down once, then reuse the same report for your bank, the CAFC, and police.

Report It With ComplaintCA →

Frequently Asked

How do I report a company that committed online fraud in Canada?

Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501 or its online Fraud Reporting System) and to your local police. If the company used false or misleading advertising, you can also file a complaint with the Competition Bureau online or at 1-800-348-5358.

Can I report fraud to my bank online?

Most banks publish an online fraud page, but if money has already left your account, call the fraud number on the back of your card instead — it's faster. CIBC, for example, lists its fraud phone lines by account type on its Report Fraud page.

Will reporting to the Anti-Fraud Centre get my money back?

No. The CAFC collects reports to track fraud patterns and doesn't recover money for individuals. Your best chance of getting money back is a dispute or chargeback through your bank or card issuer, so contact them first.

Can I email my report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre?

No. The CAFC doesn't accept reports by email — use its phone line or its online Fraud Reporting System.

Sources & Verification

Figures and steps in this article come from official sources:

Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.

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