Fraud
As frauds continue to present a significant risk to our community members and businesses, combatting fraud remains a priority for the OPP.
What is Fraud?
Fraud can take many forms. It happens when someone uses deception or false information to gain money, property, or personal details from another person. This can occur through phone calls, emails, text messages, online platforms, or in person, often by pretending to be a trusted individual or organization.
Fraud is a crime that threatens all Canadians, regardless of background, education, age, gender or income. Learn how to protect yourself and stay informed. If you think you may be a victim of fraud, click below for information on reporting fraud.
How to report it?
In the case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1.
The first step is to report the fraud to your local police service, even if no money was lost. If your local police service is the OPP, use the detachment finder to find your nearest detachment.
You have different options to report fraud to your local police, depending on where you live. You can:
- Report in-person by attending your local police service.
- Report over the phone by calling your local police service.
You are also encouraged to report the incident to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). You can contact the CAFC toll free by calling 1 888 495-8501 or through the Fraud Reporting System.
What do you need to make a report?
- Personal identification that may have been provided during the fraud.
- Any supporting documents related to the fraud, including receipts, correspondence, financial documents/statements, emails, or social media information
- A detailed chronology of the events related to the fraud.
What happens next?
- The police may request a detailed statement of the incident.
- Ensure you obtain a file/report number associated to the police report and contact information for the officer, should you have additional information to provide.
- The officer will keep you updated on the status of the investigation.
- It is important to remember that fraud investigations are complex, and they may take considerable time to investigate.
Why should you report to police?
Reporting fraud makes police aware of ongoing fraud trends targeting people across the province. This provides the police with information to notify the public of potential fraud risks. The police are able to provide crime prevention efforts and resources to best protect the community. When reported to police, an investigation may be initiated.
Why should you report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)?
If you have experienced fraud, you are encouraged to report it to the CAFC, even if no money was lost. While the CAFC does not investigate fraud, the information they collect is critical.
Reports to the CAFC help identify emerging scams, patterns, and trends across Ontario and Canada. This information is shared with police services and partners to support investigations, disrupt fraudulent activity, and help prevent others from becoming victims. Every report contributes to a clearer picture of how fraud is evolving and where prevention efforts are needed most.
Different Frauds
Advance Fee Fraud
Advance fee fraud is when you are asked to make advance or upfront payments for goods or services that you never end up receiving.
There are many variations of this type of fraud. An example is the lottery scam. In lottery scams, you are contacted by phone or email and told that you have won a prize or lottery. If you respond, you are told to pay a fee or taxes in advance to receive your winnings. You are requested to make the payment through a money transfer service or with prepaid gift cards. Once you have made the payment, you do not receive the promised winnings.
Credit and Debit Card Fraud
Credit or debit card fraud involves the compromise of any information from your credit card or debit card. The stolen information can then be used to purchase goods or services in your name.
Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
Identity theft happens when someone accesses and collects your personal information for criminal purposes. For example, someone steals your mail and collects your bank statements.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud occurs when false claims are made to an insurance company or information is misrepresented when applying for an insurance policy.
Romance Scams
In a romance scam, you meet someone on a dating website or social media platform. You are led to believe that they have genuine romantic feelings for you. The person you fell in love with is not who they say they are. They are trying to gain your trust and affection to obtain your money or your personal information.
Investment and Securities Fraud
Investment fraud is a deceptive practice where you are encouraged to make investment decisions based on false information.
The Ponzi Scheme - You invest in an opportunity promising high returns with little to no risk. You may receive high returns at first, but eventually you will not receive any more returns. In this scheme, the returns to investors are paid with the money new investors contribute. Once new investors stop joining or when too many existing investors are trying to cash out, the scheme eventually collapses.
Pump and Dump Scheme - You are offered a great deal on a low -priced stock. What you are not told is that the promoter owns a large amount of this stock. As more and more investors buy shares, the value of the stock increases. Once the price hits a peak, the promoter sells their shares and the value of the stock drops.
Phishing Scams - Phishing scams are when you get an unsolicited email claiming to be from a legitimate source such as banks or government agencies. Smishing is the same thing, except it occurs by text message. The email or text contains a link that you are encouraged to click on. You are then asked to verify or provide your personal or financial information.
Emergency Scams
In emergency scams someone poses as a relative, a friend or a representative urging you to make a payment to help your relative or friend who is hurt or in trouble.
Purchase or Sale of Merchandise Scams
Merchandise scams involve fraudulent schemes related to buying and selling goods online. If you post an online ad to sell a product, someone may contact you, attempting to obtain the item without making payment.
If you are buying online, you may see fake or misleading product advertisements. After you make a payment, you might receive an item of lower quality than expected, or receive nothing at all.
Anti-Rackets Branch
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is Canada’s central repository for data, intelligence and resource material that relates to fraud. Although the CAFC does not conduct investigations, it provides valuable assistance to law enforcement agencies all over the world by identifying connections among seemingly unrelated cases. It is jointly managed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Competition Bureau Canada and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team
The Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team (CEFT), created in September 2023, is tasked with combatting financial crimes involving a digital platform or virtual currency. This team consists of civilians and officers with diverse skillsets related to the fields of fraud investigations and cyber operations. CEFT relies upon specialized software, training, and a team approach to identify, support and resolve cases throughout Ontario.
Economic Crime and Corruption Unit
Economic Crime and Corruption (ECCU) investigations undertaken by the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch are generally those that include organized criminal activity and are complex in nature, multi-jurisdictional or trans national financial crimes that result in significant losses to individuals, corporations or government.
Health Fraud Investigation Unit (HFIU)
The Health Fraud Investigation Unit (HFIU) investigates criminal and provincial offences relating to the delivery of publicly funded health care services in Ontario. This includes developing partnerships with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and health care sector stakeholders. HFIU takes an active role in fraud prevention, enforcement, awareness and community engagement relating to health care fraud in Ontario.
Identity Crimes Unit
The Identity Crimes Unit (ICU) focuses on identifying, disrupting and dismantling organized crime groups that financially profit by utilizing false identities and personas that allow them to target vulnerable groups and business sectors.
What does the Anti-Rackets Branch (ARB) investigate?
The ARB investigates occurrences involving the following:
- Complex multi-jurisdictional and transnational frauds that result in significant loss to individuals, corporations, and government.
- Political corruption, secret commissions, and frauds related to the utilization and payment of health services.
- Multi-jurisdictional fraudulent schemes targeting vulnerable sections of the population.
- Fraud and corruption investigations that do not fit the criteria above but present the following circumstances:
- Investigative resources are not available, or sufficient, within the jurisdiction of the complaint.
- The nature of the investigation presents a level of complexity that requires advanced investigative and subject matter expertise specific to fraud and corruption cases; and,
- A real or perceived conflict of interest that interferes with the ability of the requesting police service or detachment to conduct and maintain the objectivity and impartiality of the investigation.
If you have been contacted by the Anti-Rackets Branch and invited to register for the Victim Portal, please click here.
Canadian Victim Bill of Rights
It is important for victims to be aware of their rights during the process of fraud investigations. Your rights as a victim are set out in the Canadian Victim Bill of Rights. Please refer to the “Electronic Document” on the following link to know more: Canadian Victim Bill of Rights.
