If you realize you have been scammed, it is important to act quickly to secure your personal information, protect your finances, and alert the proper authorities. Here are the most critical steps you should take:
1. Cut Off Contact and Secure Your Devices
- Stop communicating immediately: Hang up the phone and cut off all contact with the scammer. Scammers are persistent and may attempt to offer new excuses or emergencies to extract more money from you.
- Block the scammer: Block the phone numbers or email addresses they used to contact you. If you were contacted via a website or social media platform, report their profile and make your own profile private.
- Disconnect and inspect your devices: If you granted the scammer remote access to your computer or suspect you downloaded malicious software (like ransomware), turn off your device and disconnect it from your network. Have your device checked by an IT or cybersecurity specialist to remove any malware or spyware.
2. Protect Your Finances and Accounts
- Contact your bank and credit card companies: Notify your financial institutions immediately. They can help stop unauthorized transactions, secure your accounts, and investigate whether any sent funds can be recalled or recovered. Make sure you use the official phone number found on the back of your debit or credit card.
- Change your passwords: Immediately change the passwords for any online accounts that may have been compromised, especially your email and financial accounts.
- Report lost or stolen identification: If you handed over information like your driver’s license, Social Insurance Number, or passport, report it immediately to the appropriate issuing agencies so your old documents can be flagged or cancelled.
3. Report the Scam to the Authorities
- The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): The CAFC collects information on fraud to assist law enforcement. You can report scams to them online or by calling 1-888-495-8501.
- Local Police: File a police report with your local department, especially if you suffered a significant financial loss, experienced serious identity theft, or were threatened
- Credit Bureaus: If your personal identity was compromised, contact Canada’s national credit bureaus—Equifax and TransUnion—to place a fraud alert or freeze on your credit reports to prevent scammers from opening new accounts in your name
- Other Agencies: Depending on the scam, you can report fraudulent websites to the Competition Bureau, financial or investment scams to the Canadian Securities Administrators, and forward spam text messages to 7726 (SPAM).
4. Document and Monitor
- Keep meticulous records: Save all communications, emails, texts, and transaction records related to the scam, and document the tracking numbers of the reports you file with authorities.
- Monitor your accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank statements and credit reports for any ongoing unusual or unauthorized activity.
- Beware of secondary scams: Fraudsters often target past victims by pretending to be government agencies or lawyers who can help you get your money back for a fee. If someone claims they can recover your funds, ask to meet them in person at your local police station.
- Share your story: While you may feel embarrassed, talking about your experience with family and friends helps spread awareness and prevents others from falling into the same traps.
Fraud PreventionGuide
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