My action plan

Your plan

1. Stop all contact, without warning the person

   Don't tell them you know. Don't negotiate or send anything else, even to “unlock” your funds. Keep the conversations. Don't delete them.

2. Secure your device and accounts

   Uninstall AnyDesk, TeamViewer or any remote-access app. From another device, change the passwords for your email, bank accounts and platforms, and turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) with an authenticator app.

3. Contact your crypto platform

   Use only the official app or website (see the official help pages). Report the fraud and ask for your transaction summary.

1. Gather your evidence

   Use the checklist below. Request the transaction summary from every platform you used.

2. Report to your local police

   Call the non-emergency line. Bring your evidence and ask for a file number.

3. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

   1-888-495-8501 (Mon–Fri, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET) or online: reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca ↗. Your report helps investigators see the bigger picture, even if you don't get any money back.

4. In Québec: report to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)

   Online: lautorite.qc.ca ↗, “You're a victim of fraud?” page, or by phone: 1-877-525-0337. Especially for fake investment or crypto platforms.

5. Protect your identity

   Place a fraud alert with Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion (transunion.ca ↗). If you shared your Social Insurance Number (SIN), call Service Canada (1-800-622-6232).

1. Be ready for a recovery scam

   In the coming weeks, someone may offer to recover your money for a fee. It's almost always another scam. Police and the CAFC never ask for payment. Learn about recovery scams.

2. Take care of yourself

   CAVAC: 1-866-532-2822 (free, even without a police report). If you're in distress, call or text 9-8-8.

Evidence to gather

Check items off as you go (nothing is saved). Keep everything, even what seems useless.

• Screenshots of every conversation (WhatsApp, Telegram, texts, emails, social media), showing the date and the sender's name or number.
• The person's username, phone number, email and profile link.
• The website address or name of the “investment” app, plus screenshots of its dashboard.
• For each payment: date, time, amount, currency, platform used.
• For crypto: the transaction ID (hash/TXID), the destination wallet address and the network (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tron).
• The transaction summary from every platform you used.
• Your police file number and your CAFC report reference.
• A short written timeline: how contact started and what happened next.

Who to contact