Canada's fraud-reporting infrastructure is fragmented across federal, provincial, and self-regulatory bodies — which is exactly why most victims file in the wrong place and never recover. This is the order that actually works.
Hour 1: stop and document
Stop sending. Do not pay any "tax", "release fee", or "compliance verification" — these are the second slaughter. Screenshot everything before blocking the scammer: chat history, platform dashboard, wallet addresses, names, phone numbers.
Hour 1–24: the four filings
### 1. Your bank or e-transfer provider — call the fraud line
Canadian banks have improving Interac e-Transfer fraud-recall procedures. Call your bank's fraud line (printed on your card) and request a recall on any e-Transfer, wire, or bill payment in the last 72 hours. For credit-card transactions, request a chargeback immediately under Visa/Mastercard's dispute rules.
### 2. Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) — antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501
The national hub. File even for small amounts. CAFC consolidates reports across provinces and shares with RCMP, FBI, and Europol. Get the report number in writing — you'll need it for every subsequent step.
### 3. The receiving exchange's compliance team
Trace the wallet address on a block explorer to identify the exchange. Email compliance@, legal@, or law.enforcement@ directly. Canadian-registered exchanges (Bitbuy, Newton, NDAX, Coinsquare, Kraken Canada) move fastest because they're registered with FINTRAC and the provincial securities regulators.
### 4. Your provincial securities commission
This is the step most Canadian victims skip — and it's the single most important one for the platform side of the case:
- Ontario → OSC (osc.ca/en/contact-us/file-complaint)
- British Columbia → BCSC (bcsc.bc.ca)
- Alberta → ASC (asc.ca)
- Quebec → AMF (lautorite.qc.ca)
- Other provinces → see csa-acvm.ca for your regulator
Securities commissions issue investor alerts that show up on Google for the platform name. This is what stops the next Canadian victim.
Day 2–7: supporting filings
- RCMP (rcmp-grc.gc.ca) — file a separate report if the loss exceeds $5,000 or involves cross-border elements.
- FINTRAC — for suspected money laundering at a Canadian exchange (the exchange itself must also file).
- Equifax Canada + TransUnion Canada — place a fraud alert on your credit file (free, 6 years).
- The platform where contact began — Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn.
- GACS — gacs.app/report. The platform, wallets, and phone numbers go into the public blacklist serving Canadian searches.
The CRA tax write-off
Canadian victims can usually claim the loss as a capital loss on Schedule 3 in the tax year the loss is discovered. For losses on a fraudulent "investment" where no real security existed, CRA has historically accepted the claim with supporting CAFC documentation. The capital loss carries back 3 years and forward indefinitely against future capital gains.
For losses involving theft from a business (e.g., a sole-proprietor whose business funds were scammed), the business-loss treatment under ITA s.20(1)(p) may apply and is more favourable. Talk to a CPA with §20(1)(p) experience.
What does *not* work
- "Recovery agents" contacting you via WhatsApp, Telegram, or email claiming RCMP/CRA affiliation. RCMP and CRA never solicit fees from victims. 100% are scams.
- Filing only with your local police service — they will redirect to CAFC. Skip the step unless you need a local report number for insurance.
- The IIROC complaint form — IIROC regulates real registered dealers; offshore scam platforms are out of scope.
The 72-hour Canadian window
Interac e-Transfer recalls and CAFC's RCMP referral both work best inside 72 hours. File the bank claim, file CAFC, email the exchange — all three before the third sunrise after the loss. Recovery rates outside that window collapse to near-zero.