How to report fraud

If you think that you may be a victim of investmentInvestment An item of value you buy to get income or to grow in value.+ read full definition fraud in Ontario, contact the Ontario Securities Commission (OSCOSC See Ontario Securities Commission.+ read full definition) at 1-877-785-1555. Outside of Ontario, you can contact the securities regulatorSecurities regulator A government agency that enforces the securities act in jurisdiction it has authority over. This act is made up of laws that establish rules for issuing and trading securities. The Ontario Securities Commission is the securities regulator for Ontario.+ read full definition in your province or territory.

Contact the OSC as soon as you can so we can review the situation and investigate further if needed. It’s important to always report fraud. The information you provide may be critical to your investigation and you may also help stop others from being defrauded.

Not sure what to look for?
You may suspect you have been defrauded, or you just feel something in your accounts is not right. If you’re unsure what to do, contact the OSC for help.

Investment scams usually involve getting you to put up money for a questionable investment – or one that doesn’t exist at all. The signs of fraud can include promises of high returns with little or no risk, claims of a “hot tipTip The sharing of important information about a company not known to the public.+ read full definition” or insiderInsider Every director/senior officer of a reporting issuer; every director/senior officer of a company that is an insider or subsidiary of a reporting issuer; any person/company who owns or controls more than 10% of the voting securities of a reporting issuer.+ read full definition information, pressure to buy, and the seller not registered to sell investment products.

For other types of fraud, you may contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre.

Take action

If you suspect fraud, report it immediately.