Why speed matters
Fraud losses compound the longer an account stays open and the longer a bureau file goes unflagged. A criminal who has your card number, login credentials or Social Insurance Number can often open new credit within hours. The single most protective action you can take is to slow that process down immediately — by locking your existing accounts and flagging your credit file before new applications are approved in your name.
You do not need every detail sorted out before you start. Call your financial institution first, then work through the rest of the checklist below. Each step you complete makes the next one easier, because you will already have reference numbers to cite.
2
Bureaus that need a fraud alert (Equifax, TransUnion)
1-888-495-8501
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre phone line
12-24 mo
Recommended monitoring window after an incident
Interactive response checklist
Work through each item in order. The checklist tracks your progress locally in this browser session — check items off as you complete them so nothing gets missed during a stressful few days.
Fraud response checklist
0 of 10 completeFirst 24 hours
First week
Ongoing
Use a different, uncompromised device
If you suspect a device or email account was involved in the fraud, make your calls and password changes from a different, trusted device where possible. A compromised device can let an attacker intercept the very steps you are taking to lock them out.
Fraud alerts with both bureaus
Canada has two major consumer credit bureaus, Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada, and they do not automatically share fraud alerts with each other. You must contact both separately to place a consumer statement (commonly called a fraud alert) on your file.
A fraud alert tells any lender pulling your file that they should take extra steps — typically a phone call to you directly — before approving new credit. It does not block credit from being issued, but it adds a meaningful layer of friction that stops most automated or rushed fraudulent applications. Renew the alert before it expires, and request an updated copy of your file from each bureau so you can review it for accounts you did not open.
Police report and the Anti-Fraud Centre
File a report with your local police service as soon as possible. Ask specifically for a report or occurrence number in writing — many creditors, insurers and the bureaus themselves will ask for this number before they will reverse fraudulent charges or remove an impersonated account from your file.
Separately, report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through their online reporting tool. The CAFC does not investigate individual cases directly, but its intelligence supports law enforcement across the country, and a CAFC reference number is frequently requested as supporting documentation during a dispute.
Keep everything in one log
Start a written log the moment you suspect fraud: date, time, who you spoke with, what was said, and any reference number issued. This single document is often what allows a case to move quickly instead of stalling on repeated re-explanations.
Notifying creditors and closing accounts
Once your accounts are frozen and your bureau files are flagged, follow up in writing with every creditor showing fraudulent activity. Reference your police report number and request that the account be flagged for investigation rather than sent to collections in the meantime.
Most creditors will also require a signed identity theft affidavit or statutory declaration before they will remove fraudulent charges or close an impersonated account without penalty to you. Complete these promptly and keep copies of everything you submit.
If your Social Insurance Number was misused, contact Service Canada to discuss your options. If a driver's licence or health card was compromised or used to open credit, contact Service Ontario to arrange replacement identification.
If one of the accounts affected is already placed with FDR Asset Group, or you are unsure whether an account you have been contacted about is legitimate, contact us directly so we can verify the file and, where appropriate, discuss payment options once the fraud investigation is resolved.