Scammed or defrauded online in Canada? Learn exactly how to report a scam, fraud, or cyber crime — the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, police, and your bank — with direct links.
Report In This Order
1. If money or banking details were already shared
Contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately — ask about reversing the transaction, freezing the card, or flagging the account. Minutes matter here.
2. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
The national body for tracking fraud and cyber crime intelligence across Canada. It does not investigate individual cases, but reporting is essential for police and regulators to act on patterns.
Report at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca — 1-888-495-8501 →Note: the CAFC does not accept reports by email — use the phone line or its online Fraud Reporting System.
3. Your local police service
File a report with your local police (non-emergency line) — this creates an official record, which some banks and insurers require to process a claim.
4. Verify before you act — Asya's document check
Not sure if a message, invoice, or email is really a scam? ComplaintCA's verification tool analyzes an uploaded screenshot or document for signs of phishing or fraud, entirely on your device before anything is reported.
Common Cyber Crime Types
- Phishing — fake emails/texts impersonating banks, government, or delivery services asking for credentials or payment.
- Identity theft — someone using your personal information to open accounts or make purchases.
- Romance & investment scams — long-term manipulation building trust before requesting money or crypto.
- Online harassment & extortion — threats, doxxing, or sextortion attempts.
Where ComplaintCA Fits
ComplaintCA doesn't replace the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or your local police — it helps you verify suspicious documents first, then structure and document your report in one of 7 supported languages so you have a clear record to refer back to.
No need to read this whole guide — Asya can ask a few questions and point you to the right next step in seconds.
Start with Asya Now →Frequently Asked
How do I report a scam or fraud in Canada?
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca, and your local police service.
Does the CAFC accept reports by email?
No — use the phone line or the online Fraud Reporting System only.
How can I check if a message is a phishing scam?
Upload it to ComplaintCA's document verification tool for an AI analysis, done on your device.
I already sent money — what do I do first?
Contact your bank or card issuer immediately, then report to the CAFC and your local police.
How do I report a company for online fraud?
Report the company to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, and if you paid by card, dispute the charge with your card issuer directly — that's separate from and faster than the CAFC report.
I was scammed while shopping online — what do I do?
Dispute the charge with your card issuer, keep your order confirmation and seller messages, and report it to the CAFC. See ComplaintCA's online shopping chargeback guide for exact deadlines.
How do I report a bank scam or a fake bank text?
Call your bank using the number on the back of your card — never a number or link from the message — then report the message to the CAFC.
How do I report online blackmail or extortion?
Don't pay or respond. Save all messages as evidence, then report it to your local police and the CAFC.
What is ComplaintCA?
A Canadian civic complaint platform that routes you to the correct authority, with AI-assisted drafting in 7 languages, an MP finder, a lawyer panel, and cyber crime reporting support.
I'm Deaf or hard of hearing — how do I call a phone-only authority?
Use Canada VRS (free sign-language video relay, available 24/7) or dial 711 for a text-based relay operator — both let you place a real phone call to any number listed on this page.
Sources & Verification
This guide is maintained by ComplaintCA and checked against the official sources linked throughout, including:
Learn more about how ComplaintCA verifies information on our About page.