Your Legal Rights

There are codified laws emplaced in Canada to protect individuals who have been tricked into giving personal or financial information. 

Outlined in the Canadian criminal code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46) under the section of 380 for online fraud the law states; 

• 380: Everyone who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, whether or not it is a false pretense within the meaning of this Act, defrauds the public or any person, whether ascertained or not, of any property, money or valuable security or any service, 
  • is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fourteen years, where the subject-matter of the offence is a testamentary instrument or the value of the subject-matter of the offence exceeds five thousand dollars; or
  • is guilty
    • of an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or
    • of an offence punishable on summary conviction, where the value of the subject-matter of the offence does not exceed five thousand dollars.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of online fraud or scam immediately contact your local police service.

You may then contact to report the scam to Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: 1-888-495-8501 . In case of Call Service Canada for a lost or stolen social insurance number, call: 1-866-274-6627. 

As stated by the revenue agency, “If the CRA has confirmed that a taxpayer’s information has been compromised, the agency will act to prevent the fraudulent use of the information involving systems and processes for which the CRA is responsible.”

Additionally Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL) exists to protect consumers and businesses from the misuse of digital technology, including spam and other electronic threats. Created in 2014 to combat spam and related issues such as identify theft, phishing or Canada effectively went from being home to 7 of the world’s top 100 spamming organizations to just only 2 by 2017. The legislation has made a positive difference and can continue so by individuals contacting their Spam Reporting Centre at spam@fightspam.gc.ca to protect yourself and others from scams. 

https://fightspam.gc.ca/eic/site/030.nsf/eng/home