Fraud Help Centre — Free Guides for Scam Victims
If you have been scammed or suspect you are being scammed right now, this Help Centre gives you clear, practical guidance — what to do, what to save, what to avoid, and how a professional investigation report makes every next step more effective. Select a guide below or submit your case for a free assessment.
Practical Guidance — Not Just Information
Most fraud information online tells you what happened to other people. This Help Centre is written specifically for what you should do right now — with a focus on the steps that have the most impact on your ability to dispute, recover, and document your case.
Every guide is written with one principle in mind: the better your evidence and documentation, the stronger your position at every stage. Whether you are dealing with a bank dispute, engaging legal counsel, or simply trying to understand what happened — these guides give you a clear, actionable path forward.
If you have already read the guides and are ready to take the next step, submit your case for a free professional assessment. We respond within 24 hours.
Browse the Help Centre
Five free guides covering what to do, what to save, how scams work, and how to make every submission more effective.
What to Do After an Online Scam
The steps that matter most in the first 24 hours — ordered by urgency. Stop payments, preserve evidence, contact your bank, and get your case documented.
Evidence Checklist for Scam Victims
Every category of evidence you need to gather before it disappears — communications, financial records, platform details, identity information, and your written timeline.
Pig Butchering Scam — How It Works and What to Do
The most psychologically sophisticated fraud targeting Canadians — how trust is built over months, how the platform appears, and what to do if you have been targeted.
Red Flags of a Fake Investment Platform
The warning signs that appear across almost every fraudulent platform — registration checks, withdrawal red flags, account manager behaviour, and fabricated returns.
How to Report a Scam in Canada — Step by Step
Why most fraud complaints stall, what banks and legal institutions actually need to act, and why a professional investigation report is what makes every submission effective.
Looking for a Specific Scam Type? Visit the Scams Section
Detailed investigation guides for every major scam category — crypto fraud, romance scams, investment platforms, property fraud, and more.
What to Do in the First 24 Hours
If you have just realised you have been scammed, these four steps — in this order — give you the best possible position going forward.
Stop All Payments
Do not send any further money for any reason — including fees that supposedly release your funds. Every additional payment makes recovery harder.
Preserve All Evidence
Screenshot every conversation, profile, account dashboard, and document before anything disappears. Do not delete a single message — not even ones that feel painful.
Contact Your Bank
Call the fraud line on the back of your card immediately. Request a chargeback for card payments. For wire transfers, ask about a recall — same-day action gives the best chance.
Get Your Case Documented
A structured investigation report is what banks and legal counsel need to act. Submit your case to ScamResponse.ca — free assessment, response within 24 hours.
What NOT to Do After Being Scammed
These mistakes are made by well-meaning victims every day — and each one makes recovery harder. Avoid all of them.
Do Not Confront the Scammer
- Confronting them directly causes them to delete all accounts immediately
- This destroys evidence before it can be captured and documented
- Document everything first, then cease contact without explanation
Do Not Pay Any More Fees
- Any request for fees to release your funds is itself a scam tactic
- This includes taxes, compliance fees, insurance, and verification charges
- No legitimate institution requires upfront fees to release your own funds
Do Not Use a Recovery Service That Contacts You
- Unsolicited recovery services are almost always a second scam
- They claim special connections and take an upfront fee — then disappear
- Any legitimate investigation service will never cold-contact you after a loss
Do Not Wait Before Acting
- Bank chargeback and recall windows are short — some as little as 24 hours
- Platform accounts and websites are deleted rapidly after scams are discovered
- The sooner you act, the more options you have
Read the Guides. Then Let Us Take It From Here.
A free professional case assessment is the most effective next step after reading. We review every submission within 24 hours and tell you honestly what we can document.
Your Free Investigation Assessment Starts With One Message.
Submit your case at no cost. We review every submission within 24 hours and respond with a clear, honest picture of what we can do for you — no upfront payment, no hidden charges, no obligation.
FAQ — Help Centre
Common questions about these guides and how ScamResponse.ca can help.