Guide for Canadian households
Suspect Fraud? Start With the Next Safe Action
Finding a suspicious payment, a shared password or a remote-access session can trigger panic. You do not need to solve everything at once. Start by stopping further payments or access, and contact the organizations that can protect the money, accounts or identity involved.
Read time: About 4 minutes
Published: September 15, 2026
Prepared by: The Fraud Doctor
Evidence reviewed: September 25, 2026
Immediate action
End contact and stop further payments. Do not pay a recovery fee or follow more instructions from the person who contacted you.
If anyone is in immediate physical danger, call 9-1-1.
Complete these steps before considering any product or programme.
View Canadian fraud-response stepsWhat to Do First
Stop communicating with the suspected offender and stop any further payments. Do not send more money to “fix” or release anything.
Contact the bank, card issuer, payment provider or cryptocurrency exchange involved, using contact information you find yourself. Ask for the fraud department and whether a transaction can be stopped or recalled.
If someone had remote access to a computer or phone, disconnect it from the internet and use a different trusted device to contact providers. Act promptly; recovery is not guaranteed, but speed can limit further harm.
Act Based on What Was Exposed
Money or payment information
Contact every financial provider involved and follow their first instructions.
Passwords or security codes
From a trusted device, secure the exposed account first. Tell the bank right away if a banking password, card detail or one-time code was shared.
Remote device access
Keep the device offline and get reputable technical help before using it for banking again.
Identity documents or personal information
Contact the issuer of the document and watch financial and credit records for unfamiliar activity.
Keep Evidence and Report
Keep messages, phone numbers, websites, receipts and transaction details, and note the times. Do not keep talking to the offender to gather more.
Contact local police and ask for a file number. Report through Canada’s Report Cybercrime and Fraud service, or call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501. Reports help even when no money was lost.
Watch for Recovery Scams, and Look After the Person
People who have lost money are often contacted again by a supposed investigator, lawyer or recovery company asking for a fee or remote access. No one can guarantee recovery.
Fraud brings shame and fear. The deception was the offender’s responsibility. Listen without blame. If someone is severely distressed or thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8 anywhere in Canada.
Awareness is not a plan
Once the urgent steps are done, a practised household plan helps make sure the same pressure does not work again.
Put your family’s plan in placeFrequently asked questions
Should I delete the messages or block the person immediately?
Keep the evidence first if it is safe to do so, then follow bank, police or platform guidance on blocking.
Is it too late to contact the bank?
Contact the bank as soon as you notice. Recovery is not guaranteed, but they can explain your options and protect the accounts.
Should an attempt be reported if no money was lost?
Yes. Reports help authorities spot patterns and new scams.
Official sources
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — What to do if you are a victim of fraud (opens in a new tab)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — Report fraud and cybercrime (opens in a new tab)
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Check your credit report for fraud (opens in a new tab)
- Report Cybercrime and Fraud (opens in a new tab)