← Guides / Canada

Canada Identity Theft & Fraud Protection Guide

the identity theft and the financial fraud protection in Canada. The identity theft is the "unauthorized collection and the use of the personal information" (the "SIN, the name, the address, the date of birth"). The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the "central fraud reporting agency" (the "CAFC" — the "1-888-495-8501"). The credit card fraud is the most common financial fraud in Canada — the "unauthorized transaction" — the "card-not-present fraud" — the "skimming". The debit card fraud involves the "skimming device" on the "ATM" or the "POS terminal" — the "PIN capture". The real estate fraud (the "title fraud") is the "fraudulent transfer of the property title" — the "mortgage fraud". The credit freeze (the "security freeze") prevents the "new credit accounts from being opened" (the "Equifax freeze" — the "TransUnion freeze"). The fraud alert notifies the "creditors to verify the identity before extending the credit".

Types of Financial Fraud

• Credit card fraud: The "unauthorized charge" — the "card-not-present fraud" (the "online purchase using the stolen card number"). The "skimming" (the "device on the ATM or the POS terminal that reads the card data"). The "lost or stolen card" (the "physical card is used by the thief"). The "cardholder liability" — the "maximum $50 for the unauthorized transaction" (the "zero liability policy" at the most Canadian banks).
• Debit card fraud: The "debit card skimming" (the "hidden camera" — the "PIN pad overlay" — the "card reader device"). The "debit card fraud protection" — the "bank reimburses the unauthorized transaction" if the cardholder reports the fraud promptly (the "CDIC protection" — the "bank's fraud policy").
• Real estate fraud: The "title fraud" (the "fraudster transfers the property title using the forged documents"). The "mortgage fraud" (the "fraudster takes the mortgage on the property without the owner's knowledge"). The "property title theft" (the "fraudster sells the property using the fake identity"). The "title insurance" protects the homeowner from the title fraud (the "title insurance policy" — the "legal cost coverage").
• Identity theft: The "SIN theft" (the "Social Insurance Number is stolen"). The "identity fraud" (the "stolen identity is used to open the bank accounts, the credit cards, the loans"). The "tax refund fraud" (the "fraudulent tax return filed using the stolen SIN").

Fraud Prevention

• SIN protection: Keep the SIN card in the safe place (the "do NOT carry the SIN card in the wallet"). Share the SIN only with the "authorized organizations" (the "employers, the banks, the government agencies"). Do NOT provide the SIN over the phone or the email.
• Online security: Use the "strong password" (the "12+ characters" — the "password manager"). Use the "two-factor authentication" (the "2FA" — the "MFA") on the "bank accounts" and the "credit card accounts". Monitor the "bank statements" and the "credit card statements" for the "unauthorized transactions".
• Credit monitoring: The "Credit Karma Canada" (the "free TransUnion monitoring"). The "Borrowell" (the "free Equifax monitoring"). The "paid credit monitoring" (the "Equifax Complete" — the "TransUnion Credit Monitoring").
• Credit freeze: The "security freeze" on the credit report — the "Equifax freeze" (the "online request" — the "phone request at 1-800-465-7166") and the "TransUnion freeze" (the "online request" — the "phone request at 1-877-525-3823").

Fraud Reporting

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): The "central fraud reporting agency" — the "phone: 1-888-495-8501" — the "online reporting at the antifraudcentre.ca". The CAFC collects the fraud intelligence and the coordinates the enforcement.
• Local police: The "identity theft report" — the "police report number" — the "fraud case file". The police report is necessary for the "credit bureau dispute" and the "bank fraud reimbursement".
• CRA reporting: The "CRA identity fraud" — the "CRA Identity Fraud Callback" at the "1-800-959-8281". The CRA investigates the "tax refund fraud" and the "SIN-related fraud".
• Bank reporting: Contact the "bank immediately" upon the "unauthorized transaction" or the "lost or stolen card". The bank will "cancel the card" and "reimburse the unauthorized charge" (the "zero liability policy").

For the CRA-specific scams and the identity protection, see our CRA Scams & Identity Protection Guide →. For the credit reports and the scores, see our Credit Report & Score Guide →.