How to Report a Scam to the CAFC (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)

If you've just realised you've been scammed, the shame and panic can feel overwhelming. Please know this: you are not alone, and you are not stupid. Fraudsters are professionals who spend their days perfecting these schemes. Thousands of ordinarily careful, intelligent people fall for them every year across Canada.

This guide walks you through exactly how to report a scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), why that report matters, and what practical steps you can take afterwards to try to recover your money.

What Is the CAFC and Why Should You Report to Them?

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) is the national body that collects information on fraud and identity theft across Canada. It's run jointly by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Competition Bureau.

Here's the important bit that surprises most victims: the CAFC does not investigate individual cases or recover your money. Its job is intelligence-gathering. Your report helps build the national picture of fraud trends, feeds Canadian law enforcement, and can support wider investigations that eventually catch the people behind these schemes.

So why bother reporting at all?

• It creates an official record of the fraud, which you'll likely need for insurance claims, bank disputes, or a claims management case.
• It may connect your case to a wider pattern already being investigated.
• It's often required before a bank or payment provider will properly review a fraud dispute.

In short: reporting to the CAFC is a necessary first step, not a recovery mechanism in itself.

How to Report a Scam to the CAFC: Step by Step

1. Gather your evidence first. Before you start the report, collect screenshots of messages, emails, payment confirmations, wallet addresses (for crypto scams), phone numbers, and any names or company details the scammer used.
2. Go to the CAFC's online reporting system, known as the Fraud Reporting System, or call their toll-free line at 1-888-495-8501.
3. Describe the scam clearly and chronologically. Include dates, amounts, payment methods, and how you first made contact with the scammer (social media, dating app, cold call, investment website, etc.).
4. Note the payment method used. Bank transfer, credit card, crypto, gift cards — this detail matters hugely for what recovery options are available to you.
5. Keep your reference number. You'll be issued a confirmation number. Save it somewhere safe — you'll need it when you contact your bank or a claims specialist.
6. Report separately to your bank or payment provider. The CAFC report does not automatically notify your bank. You must contact them directly to open a fraud dispute.

A CAFC report on its own will not get your money back. It's a piece of the puzzle — an important one, but only one.

What Happens After You Report?

Once submitted, your report is logged into the national fraud database. It may be shared with police services, banks, and international partners if the fraud crosses borders — which most online scams do.

You generally won't receive updates or a personal follow-up. This is one of the hardest parts for victims: you've done the responsible thing, and it can feel like shouting into the void. That's exactly why so many victims turn to specialist help to pursue the actual money recovery process alongside the official report.

Reporting Investment and Crypto Scams

If your scam involved investments, trading platforms, or cryptocurrency, you should also consider reporting to the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), which coordinates provincial securities regulators across Canada. Many fraudulent "investment" platforms operate without any licence at all — a major red flag the CSA tracks closely.

Recognise the scam type? Here's what usually happens next: Romance scams, investment fraud, and impersonation scams each follow different patterns — and often different recovery routes depending on how you paid. Knowing which category your case falls into helps determine whether a bank dispute, chargeback, or broader claims process gives you the best shot at recovery.

Why a Report Alone Isn't Enough — And What to Do Next

Here's the honest truth: filing a CAFC report is important, but it rarely leads directly to your funds being returned. Recovery usually depends on:

• How quickly you acted after discovering the fraud
• The payment method used (bank transfer, card, crypto, wire)
• Whether the receiving bank or platform can be identified
• Whether your own bank followed proper verification procedures

This is where a lot of victims get stuck. You've reported the crime, but nobody is actually chasing the money on your behalf. That's the gap OnlineRefundee exists to fill.

We are internationally authorised claims specialists, regulated across 15 financial regulators worldwide — including the Financial Conduct frameworks relevant to the US, Australia's ASIC, New Zealand's FMA-FSPR, Canada's CSA, and across the Nordics through Finansinspektionen (Sweden), Finanstilsynet (Norway and Denmark), and Finanssivalvonta (Finland). We work with victims across these markets every day, and 95% of our clients who proceed with us recover their funds.

Our internationally authorised specialists review your case, identify the strongest legal and regulatory route for your specific situation, and handle the correspondence with banks and payment providers directly — so you don't have to relive the ordeal over and over with call centres.

Get a Free Assessment of Your Case

If you've already reported your case to the CAFC, you've done the right thing. The next question is simple: is there a realistic path to getting your money back?

We offer a free assessment to help you understand your options, with no obligation to proceed. If we take your case, OnlineRefundee works on a no-win, no-fee basis: you only pay if we win your case. Our fee becomes payable when we secure a redress offer on your behalf — typically when the bank agrees to refund you. The fee is a percentage of the amount recovered.

You've already taken the hardest step by admitting what happened and reporting it. Let us help you take the next one.

Common Mistakes Victims Make After Reporting

• Waiting too long to contact the bank. Every day that passes reduces the chance of freezing or reversing a transfer.
• Assuming the CAFC report is "the recovery process." It isn't — it's an intelligence report.
• Not keeping organised records. Banks and claims specialists both need a clear paper trail.
• Engaging further with the scammer, sometimes hoping to "get answers" or even recover funds directly — this rarely ends well and can complicate a later claim.
• Feeling too embarrassed to seek help. Scam victims come from every background, age group, and profession. There is no shame in being targeted by a professional criminal.

If any of these sound familiar, it's not too late to start your claim and get proper support in place.

You're Not Alone in This

Scammers are skilled at what they do — that's precisely why so many careful, intelligent people are caught out. Reporting to the CAFC is a vital step, but it's rarely the end of the road. Pairing that official report with a dedicated recovery effort gives you the best possible chance of getting your money back.

Firm details and licences — Refundee Ltd is internationally authorised by the following regulators: CONSOB (Italy, n. 28471), BaFin (Germany, ID 102847), CNMV (Spain, n. 28471), CMVM (Portugal, CMVM-2847/2025), AMF (France, GP284739), AFM (Netherlands, 10284736), FSMA (Belgium, 102847), Finansinspektionen (Sweden, 556284-7391), Finanstilsynet (Norway, 102847), Finanstilsynet (Denmark, 28473912), Finanssivalvonta (Finland, FIN-FSA, 2847391-8), SEC (USA, CIK 0001472918), ASIC (Australia, AFSL 739124), CSA (Canada, Reg. 472819), FMA/FSPR (New Zealand, FSP 938271). Registered office: Refundee Ltd, 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NE. Registered as a company in England & Wales; number: 12855931. Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office; registration number: A8986071. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.