Lost Your Wallet or Had Your Identity Stolen? What to Do

Identity theft happens when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, date of birth, SIN or card details, to commit fraud.

In the first hour

1. Call your bank and credit card companies to freeze or cancel cards.
2. Change passwords for email, banking and other key accounts, and turn on two-factor authentication.

In the first day

1. Contact Equifax and TransUnion to place a fraud alert and get your credit reports.
2. Report to your local police and get a report number.
3. Report it online through Canada's National Fraud Reporting System, run by the RCMP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Replace your ID

• Health card and driver's licence: through ServiceOntario.
• Passport: report it lost or stolen to the Government of Canada right away.
• SIN: contact Service Canada if you think your SIN is being misused.

Keep a written log of what happened, what you did and who you spoke to.

Keep watching

Check your bank statements and credit reports regularly for months afterwards.

Disputing fraudulent debts

Write to the creditor and the credit bureaus, include your police report number, and keep copies of everything.

Sources

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
• Competition Bureau: how to report fraud and scams
• FCAC: checking your credit report for errors and fraud
• ServiceOntario

Read next: Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Your Rights Under Canada's Air Passenger Rules

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: Holding a passport with travel documents · A screen showing digital security.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.