Helping someone else?
Helping a parent who got scammed
Lead with reassurance. Scams are designed by professionals to fool careful people, and shame keeps victims from acting — the fastest way to help your parent is to take the blame out of it and work the steps together. Recovery is never certain, but acting quickly gives the best chance.
Never send “recovery money”
After a scam, fraudsters often come back — posing as police, a lawyer, a government agent, or a “recovery agency” — and offer to recover your losses for an upfront fee. That is a second scam. No legitimate agency, and no police service, charges an upfront fee to recover stolen money. If someone contacts you promising to get funds returned for a payment, it is fraud.
How to help, step by step
- 1Start with reassurance, not questions about how it happened. Anyone can be targeted; what matters now is acting.
- 2Gather everything together — statements, messages, receipts, and any numbers the scammer used.
- 3Call their financial institution right away. Expect that your parent will generally need to be on the call themselves.
- 4Report to local police for a file number, then to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- 5If their identity or SIN may be exposed, place fraud alerts with both credit bureaus and follow the identity-theft steps.
- 6Watch together for the follow-up scam — the fake “recovery” offer. Never pay a fee to anyone who promises to recover the loss.
Who has to be on the call
Banks and government bodies generally speak to the account holder directly. Unless you already have documented legal authority, plan to be beside your parent helping — not speaking for them. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre can be reached at 1-888-495-8501, and the two of you can make the report together.
Common questions
Can I just call the bank and sort it out for my parent?
Usually the account holder needs to be on the call themselves — banks and government bodies generally speak to the person whose account it is, unless you already have documented legal authority to act for them. The most useful thing you can do is sit with them, help gather records, and make the calls together.
What is the first step?
The same as for anyone: gather everything, then contact their financial institution right away, report to local police for a file number, and report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Speed matters, and doing it alongside them keeps them in control of their own accounts.
What if I want authority to help with future issues?
Setting up a power of attorney is a planning-ahead step for the future, not a fix for today’s scam — and it is your parent’s decision to make while they are able. Our wills and power of attorney guide explains how it works in each province.
Where to go from here
General information only, not legal advice and not a recovery service. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.