Report Online Sales Scams - Surrey Bylaw Guidance

Business and Consumer Protection British Columbia 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of British Columbia

Surrey, British Columbia residents who suspect online sales scams should know where to report, what evidence to keep, and which municipal or criminal channels handle enforcement. This guide explains practical steps for reporting scams related to online marketplaces, classified ads, and social media sales, and tells you which local offices and provincial or federal agencies handle complaints.

What to report

Report listings or sellers who take payment and do not deliver, impersonate businesses, use forged documents, demand unusual payment methods, or offer prices that are clearly fraudulent. Include screenshots, dates, amounts, transaction IDs, messages, and seller contact details.

Keep clear screenshots and timestamps as your first action after a suspicious transaction.

How to report

  • Contact local police for frauds where you lost money or were threatened; for serious or ongoing scams contact Surrey Police Service non-emergency lines or file a police report.
  • Report online marketplace or platform abuse to the platform (use their fraud/report feature) and preserve confirmation or reference numbers.
  • Report suspected mass or coordinated scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre [1] and follow their instructions for documentation and next steps.

Penalties & Enforcement

Online sales scams may be investigated as municipal bylaw matters (where the activity breaches local licensing or business bylaws), or as criminal fraud under federal law. Which instrument applies depends on the conduct and the harm alleged.

  • Fines: not specified on the cited municipal pages for online sales scams; criminal penalties for fraud depend on the Criminal Code and are set at the federal level.
  • Escalation: first offences, repeat offences, and continuing offences are handled case-by-case by enforcement officers or prosecutors; specific escalation schedules are not specified on the municipal complaint pages.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to cease activity, removal of listings, seizure of counterfeit goods (where applicable), and court actions are possible under municipal or criminal processes.
  • Enforcer: municipal By-law Enforcement or Licensing for bylaw contraventions; Surrey Police Service for criminal fraud investigations; provincial consumer protection agencies may provide advisory actions.
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes and time limits depend on the specific bylaw or charge; time limits are not specified on the general complaint pages and must be confirmed on the enforcement notice or charge documents.
  • Defences/discretion: officers and prosecutors exercise discretion; defences such as reasonable mistake or authorized resale may apply depending on evidence and intent.
If you have lost money, report to police promptly and preserve all communications and receipts.

Applications & Forms

There is no single municipal form for online sales scams published for Surrey residents; fraud complaints are normally filed with local police or with provincial/federal reporting portals. For platform-related forms, use the marketplace or payment provider's complaint tools.

Common violations and typical outcomes

  • Seller takes payment and fails to deliver: often leads to police report, platform removal, and potential criminal charges.
  • Counterfeit or misdescribed goods: may result in seizure, listing removal, or licensing action.
  • Impersonation of a business: can produce cease-and-desist orders and referrals to enforcement or police.
Platforms often act faster to remove listings than municipal processes can impose fines.

Action steps for residents

  • Stop further payments and contact your bank or payment provider to seek a chargeback or reversal where possible.
  • Collect evidence: screenshots, messages, transaction records, and seller profile links.
  • File a police report with Surrey Police Service if you suffered a loss or threat; obtain a report number for insurers or banks.
  • Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for national tracking and advice.[1]

FAQ

Where do I first report an online sales scam in Surrey?
File a police report with Surrey Police Service if you lost money or were threatened; also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for national tracking and to the marketplace where the listing appeared.
Will the City of Surrey issue fines for online scams?
Municipal fines for specific bylaw breaches depend on the bylaw involved; fines for online sales scams are not specified on the general municipal complaint pages and are handled case-by-case.
Can I get my money back?
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to request a chargeback; also provide the police report number and platform evidence to increase recovery chances.

How-To

  1. Stop payments and secure transaction evidence, including screenshots and payment confirmations.
  2. Contact your bank or payment provider to request a reversal or dispute.
  3. File a police report with Surrey Police Service and obtain a report number.
  4. Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for tracking and guidance.[1]
  5. Report the listing to the online marketplace and keep records of takedown confirmations.

Key Takeaways

  • Report losses to Surrey Police Service and get a report number.
  • Preserve complete evidence before contacting banks, police, or platforms.
  • Use federal and provincial reporting tools for broader tracking and advice.

Help and Support / Resources

    Categories

    General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data