The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has announced the launch of the ‘Report Cybercrime and Fraud’ website, which establishes a new central repository for individuals, businesses, and organizations from across the country to report fraud and cybercrime incidents.
“The launch of Report Cybercrime and Fraud marks a huge step forward in reducing the impact of these crimes in Canada by providing victims with a centralized resource to report fraud and cybercrime, and giving law enforcement the information needed to respond effectively,” said Mike Duheme, RCMP commissioner, in a news release.
In its news release, the RCMP stated that the new website seeks to offer a centralized and user-friendly system, administered by the RCMP’s National Cybercrime Coordination Centre (NC3) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), designed for victims and witnesses alike.
The RCMP stressed that reporting cybercrime and fraud would help police:
- Solve and respond to individual cases
- Disrupt cybercriminal activities
- Collect more information on the impacts of these threats on Canadians
- Prevent others from falling victim to such crimes
“Everyone has a role to play in fighting fraud and cybercrime, including reporting incidents to Report Cybercrime and Fraud,” said Marie-Claude Dandenault, RCMP deputy commissioner, specialized policing services, in the news release.
“Anyone can fall victim to fraud or cybercrime, whether as an individual or as part of a business or organization,” Duheme added. “That is why it is so important for all Canadians to know exactly where to go if they experience an incident.”
How to report
In its news release, the RCMP suggested that those who fall victim to fraud or cybercrime should:
- Keep calm
- Gather all the information available on the incident
- Submit a report to the local police and their financial institution
- Visit the new ‘Report Cybercrime and Fraud’ website
- Click ‘Report online’
- Upload any evidence of the incident, including images, screen captures, proof of transactions, receipts, text messages, and emails
“This new system will help law enforcement make connections between cases, bring cybercriminals to justice, and proactively shut these threats down,” Dandenault said in the news release. “Together, we can help keep all Canadians safe from cybercrime and fraud.”
The RCMP clarified that critical infrastructure organizations, government departments and agencies, and information technology security practitioners should keep reporting cyber incidents to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
In its news release, the RCMP noted that users could file anonymous reports and submit information regarding suspicious activity witnessed online, regardless of whether the activity affected or victimized them.
The RCMP shared that Canadians reported over $648 million in losses to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre last year. The RCMP estimated that Canadians impacted by fraud and cybercrime incidents reported only five to 10 percent of such cases, out of embarrassment, fear of reputational harm, or a lack of awareness of available resources.