Identity Theft
Written in plain language for general understanding. This is educational content, not legal advice. Based on Canadian federal statutes and official sources.
Canadian Federal Law
What is this right?
Identity theft is a criminal offence under Canada's Criminal Code, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. If someone steals your personal information and uses it without your consent, you have the right to take action.
Key steps to protect yourself:
- Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501.
- Place a fraud alert with Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion (1-800-663-9980).
- Credit freezes are currently only available in Quebec. Ontario is adding them in July 2026.
- Report to local police — you'll need a police report for many dispute processes.
When does it apply?
- Anyone whose personal information is stolen and used without consent.
- This includes fraudulent credit applications, bank accounts, government benefits claims, and tax fraud.
What should you do?
- Contact the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 to report the fraud.
- Call Equifax and TransUnion to place fraud alerts on your credit files.
- Report to local police and get a copy of the police report.
- Contact your bank and credit card companies to flag your accounts.
- Change all your passwords — especially email, banking, and government accounts.
- Check your CRA My Account for any fraudulent tax activity.
- Review your credit reports for any accounts you don't recognize.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't delay reporting — the longer you wait, the more damage the thief can do.
- Don't pay debts you didn't create — dispute them with the creditor and the credit bureaus.
- Don't throw away evidence of the fraud — keep all letters, statements, and records.
- Don't assume it will resolve itself — identity theft requires active steps to fix.
- Don't ignore suspicious CRA correspondence — it could be a sign someone filed taxes in your name.
Legal Resources
We may earn a commission if you use these services — at no extra cost to you. This supports our mission to make legal information free for everyone.
LawDepotSend a formal demand letter to a business or creditor. State-specific financial and consumer documents ready in minutes.Create a Demand Letter →Credit KarmaFree credit monitoring, dispute tools, and alerts. Know when your credit report changes.Check Your Credit Free →IdentityGuardIdentity theft protection and monitoring. Get notified if your personal information is misused.Protect Your Identity →