Report Telemarketing & Online Sales Fraud - London Bylaws

Business and Consumer Protection Ontario 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Ontario · By Daniel Roy

In London, Ontario, consumers who suspect telemarketing or online sales fraud should act quickly to report the incident and preserve evidence. This guide explains where to report scams, which agencies enforce consumer protections, and the practical steps to submit complaints and support investigations. Provincial and federal bodies handle most telemarketing and online-sales enforcement, while local police investigate criminal fraud; use the official reporting channels below to start an investigation and protect others.[1][2]

Penalties & Enforcement

Telemarketing and online sales fraud may give rise to criminal charges (fraud) and provincial enforcement under consumer protection laws. Responsibility for enforcement varies by issue: criminal fraud is investigated by police, deceptive business practices may be handled by provincial consumer protection authorities, and some matters can involve federal agencies.

  • Enforcers: Criminal fraud investigations are led by London Police Service; consumer protection complaints fall to the Ontario Ministry responsible for consumer protection.[2]
  • Fines and penalties: Specific fine amounts are not specified on the cited provincial guidance page for general scams; see the enforcing agency pages for statutory penalties or "not specified on the cited page" where amounts are absent.[1]
  • Criminal sanctions: Fraud prosecutions can lead to criminal charges, court-ordered restitution, and sentencing under the Criminal Code of Canada (handled by police and Crown counsel; monetary ranges depend on convictions and are governed by federal law).
  • Non-monetary orders: Provincial consumer protection remedies can include orders to stop unfair practices and to provide refunds; specific orders depend on statutory authority and case details.
  • Time limits and appeals: Time limits for appeals or reviews depend on the enforcing body and the statute or regulation invoked; where not shown on the cited pages, the time limits are not specified on the cited page.[1]
  • Common violations: misrepresentation of goods or services, unsolicited telemarketing with false claims, identity-fraud orders, false payment requests; penalties vary by statute and case.
Report immediately and keep records of calls, messages, receipts and screenshots.

Applications & Forms

There is no single city form for telemarketing or online-sales fraud; consumers use police reporting channels for criminal matters and provincial/federal complaint forms or reporting tools for consumer protection and fraud intelligence. The cited provincial and federal pages explain how to submit reports; some pages host online forms while others provide phone and email contacts.[1][2]

How to Report Scams in London, Ontario

Follow these practical steps to report telemarketing or online sales fraud and preserve evidence for investigators.

  1. Stop contact and preserve evidence: save call logs, text messages, emails, receipts, screenshots and invoices.
  2. Report criminal fraud to London Police Service if money or identity theft is involved; provide all evidence and transaction details.[2]
  3. Report scams to the provincial consumer protection resources to alert regulators about unfair business practices and request assistance.[1]
  4. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to feed national fraud intelligence and check whether others have reported the same scheme.
  5. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to block or reverse transactions and to request fraud protection measures.
If money was sent, contact your financial institution without delay to attempt a recall or chargeback.

FAQ

What should I report to London Police?
Report suspected criminal fraud, identity theft, extortion or when you have lost money; provide transaction records and any communications with the suspect.[2]
Can the City of London enforce telemarketing rules?
The City does not usually regulate telemarketing fraud; provincial and federal agencies handle deceptive sales practices and criminal fraud respectively — contact the indicated agencies for enforcement.[1]
How do I report a scam to provincial authorities?
Use the Ontario government guidance and complaint pages to report unfair practices and get consumer protection advice; follow the steps on the official reporting pages.[1]

How-To

  1. Gather evidence: save all messages, call logs, screenshots and receipts.
  2. Call London Police for criminal matters or use their online reporting options for non-emergencies.
  3. Submit a complaint to Ontario consumer protection channels describing the business, offer and supporting documents.
  4. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre to assist national tracking and prevention efforts.
  5. Contact your bank or payment provider to block further transfers or request a chargeback.

Key Takeaways

  • Preserve evidence immediately: records make investigations possible.
  • Report criminal incidents to London Police and submit consumer complaints to provincial channels.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Ontario: Scams and Frauds guidance
  2. [2] Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre report page

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Daniel Roy

Daniel Roy

Municipal Bylaw Analyst

Daniel analyses municipal bylaws across Canadian provinces and territories. He checks every guide against official municipal and provincial sources.