Report Online Sales Scams in Montréal - City Bylaws

Business and Consumer Protection Quebec 3 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of Quebec · By Daniel Roy

In Montréal, Quebec, online sales scams can affect residents and businesses. This guide explains who enforces consumer fraud matters, how to collect evidence, what enforcement and appeal routes exist, and where to file complaints with Montréal and provincial authorities. Use these steps to report scams, protect payments, and preserve evidence for police or consumer protection agencies.

Penalties & Enforcement

There is no single Montréal municipal bylaw that specifically sets fines for online sales scams; enforcement is handled by police services and provincial consumer authorities. Monetary penalties and criminal sanctions for fraud are set by provincial and federal statutes or by police prosecution and are not specified on the municipal pages linked below.

  • Enforcer: municipal police (SPVM) for criminal fraud investigations and public-safety incidents.
  • Provincial regulator: Office de la protection du consommateur (Québec) for unfair business practices and consumer complaints.
  • Judicial actions: prosecutions or civil claims are pursued in provincial courts when applicable.
  • Fines: not specified on the cited pages.
  • Escalation: details for first, repeat, or continuing offences are not specified on the cited pages.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders, restitution demands, or seizures may be sought through police or courts; specific municipal administrative sanctions for online sales scams are not specified on city pages.
If you suspect fraud, preserve all messages, receipts and screenshots immediately.

Applications & Forms

There is no single municipal complaint form for “online sales scams” published as a city bylaw form. To initiate an official complaint you generally use police reporting tools or provincial complaint forms provided by consumer protection authorities.

  • Police report: file an SPVM report for criminal fraud (use SPVM reporting procedures).
  • Consumer complaint: submit a complaint to the Office de la protection du consommateur via its complaint intake.
  • Bank/payment dispute: contact your financial institution or payment platform to request a block, chargeback, or freeze.

How to Document and Report a Scam

Act quickly: stop payments if possible, document the transaction, and contact enforcement agencies. Good evidence increases chances of recovery and successful enforcement.

  • Save screenshots of listings, seller profiles, chat logs, and payment confirmations.
  • Record dates, amounts, and any tracking numbers or account IDs.
  • Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report unauthorized transactions.
Acting quickly helps payment providers and police investigate and possibly freeze funds.

FAQ

Who enforces online sales scams in Montréal?
Criminal fraud is investigated by municipal police (SPVM) and prosecuted under provincial or federal criminal law; consumer complaints about unfair business practices are handled by the Office de la protection du consommateur.
Can the city issue a bylaw fine for an online sales scam?
The city does not publish a specific bylaw fine for online sales scams; enforcement typically proceeds through police, provincial consumer protection, or court action.
What immediate steps should I take after suspecting a scam?
Preserve all evidence, contact your bank or payment provider to freeze or dispute the payment, and file reports with police and consumer protection authorities.

How-To

  1. Collect evidence: save screenshots, emails, receipts, and payment records.
  2. Contact your bank or payment service to report the transaction and request a reversal or block.
  3. File a police report with SPVM describing the incident and attaching evidence.
  4. Submit a complaint to the Office de la protection du consommateur for unfair practices.
  5. Keep copies of all correspondence and follow up with case numbers for appeals or civil claims.

Key Takeaways

  • Preserve evidence and act quickly with banks and police.
  • Report scams to police and provincial consumer protection bodies.
  • Municipal bylaws do not typically list specific fines for online sales scams; enforcement follows police or provincial procedures.

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
    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.