TL;DR: A fraud alert tells lenders to check it’s really you before approving credit. It’s free, lasts six years, and you have to add it separately at Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion (1-800-663-9980). Equifax offers an Identity Alert anyone can add and a Fraud Warning for confirmed victims. In Ontario and Manitoba, lenders must call you before extending credit when an alert is on file. Want stronger protection? A credit lock (freeze) is now free in Quebec (since February 2023) and Ontario (Equifax since 1 July 2026; TransUnion has until 1 July 2027).
Fraud alert vs credit lock
| Fraud alert | Credit lock (freeze) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Flags your file so lenders verify your identity | Stops the bureau releasing your file for new credit |
| Where available | Anywhere in Canada | Quebec and Ontario (BC passed a law, not yet in force) |
| Cost | Free | Free under provincial rules |
| Lasts | 6 years unless removed | Until you remove or suspend it |
| Weakness | Lenders may not always act on it | You must suspend it before applying for credit |
Frugal Flyer’s August 2026 review notes that a fraud alert "doesn’t block access to your file; instead, it tells lenders to verify your identity," and that enforcement is often reported as spotty. That’s why the alert and the lock work best together where you can get both.
Equifax’s two alerts
From Equifax Canada:
| Identity Alert | Fraud Warning | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can add it | Anyone | Confirmed fraud or identity theft victims |
| What it contains | Your statement plus a required phone number | A phone number for lenders |
| Duration | 6 years unless removed in writing | 6 years |
| Lender contact | Required in Ontario and Manitoba; encouraged elsewhere | Encouraged |
How to add an Equifax alert
- Phone: 1-800-465-7166. Steps to Justice says to choose your language, then say "lost ID" or press 2. Have your SIN and date of birth ready.
- Online: Equifax’s online form.
- Mail: Equifax Canada Co., Consumer Relations Department, Box 190, Montreal, Quebec H1S 2Z2, with photocopies of two pieces of ID.
For a Fraud Warning, call Equifax or file a dispute; Equifax may open a fraud investigation.
TransUnion Canada
Each alert covers only one bureau, and lenders may check either. TransUnion calls its version a potential fraud alert. According to Steps to Justice:
- Phone: 1-800-663-9980
- Online: TransUnion’s request form
- Mail: download TransUnion’s fraud warning form and send it to the TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department, 3115 Harvester Road, Suite 201, Burlington, ON L7N 3N8
There’s no fee, and the alert lasts six years.
The new credit lock: who can get it
| Province | Status |
|---|---|
| Quebec | Free credit freeze/lock since 1 February 2023 at both bureaus |
| Ontario | Equifax Credit Lock since 1 July 2026; TransUnion must follow by 1 July 2027 |
| British Columbia | Law passed December 2025; not in force until regulations are finalised |
| Other provinces | Not available yet; fraud alerts are the main tool |
Sources: Frugal Flyer and Equifax Canada’s June 2026 announcement.
Equifax calls the Ontario lock a "digital deadbolt": while it’s on, Equifax can’t give lenders your score, report or personal information for new credit. It’s free, doesn’t affect your credit score, and you can place, remove or suspend it through myEquifax, by phone or by mail. The Ontario change comes from the province’s Bill 142 (Better for Consumers, Better for Businesses Act).
When to add an alert
- after a breach that exposed your SIN, date of birth or ID (SIN stolen steps);
- after a lost wallet or stolen ID;
- after a scam call where you gave out personal details;
- if you spot unknown inquiries or accounts on your report.
Keep the phone number on your alert current; a lender calling an old number is no protection at all.
Check your reports too
Steps to Justice says the bureaus must mail you a free credit report once a year if you ask. If you find an account you didn’t open, report it right away: the bureau must try to correct it and send the updated report to anyone who requested your file in the past six months. Free monitoring is also available through Borrowell (Equifax data), Credit Karma and ClearScore (TransUnion data), according to Frugal Flyer.
Report the fraud
Report identity fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police, and see our guide to reporting identity theft in Canada. To see which breaches your email address appears in, run a free email exposure check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put a fraud alert on my credit in Canada?
Call Equifax Canada at 1-800-465-7166 and TransUnion Canada at 1-800-663-9980, or use their online or mail options. You have to contact each bureau separately.
How long does a fraud alert last in Canada?
Six years at both Equifax and TransUnion, unless you remove it.
Is a fraud alert free in Canada?
Yes. There’s no fee to add one.
Do lenders have to call me if I have an alert?
In Ontario and Manitoba they must call before extending credit. Elsewhere they’re encouraged to.
Can I freeze my credit in Canada?
Yes in Quebec (since February 2023) and Ontario (Equifax since 1 July 2026, TransUnion by 1 July 2027). BC has passed a law that isn’t in force yet.
Does an Equifax alert cover TransUnion?
No. Contact TransUnion Canada separately.
Sources
- Equifax Canada: How to place a fraud alert
- Steps to Justice: Ask a consumer reporting agency to issue a fraud alert
- Equifax Canada: Credit Lock for Ontarians (June 2026)
- Frugal Flyer: Credit freezes in Canada (Aug 2026)
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre