FINTRAC (Canada)

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) is Canada's financial intelligence unit, established under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act 2000. Banks, credit unions, money service businesses, real estate brokers, casinos, and other designated entities must report large cash transactions, international electronic funds transfers, and suspicious transactions to FINTRAC. The centre analyses this data and produces financial intelligence disclosures to the RCMP, CSIS, and other authorised agencies.

In fraud contexts, FINTRAC's role is to follow the money: when scam proceeds are deposited into Canadian bank accounts or moved through Canadian remittance services, reporting entities should identify and report the suspicious patterns. FINTRAC publishes operational alerts and typology reports that help reporting entities recognise fraud-related money flows, including advance fee fraud, telemarketing fraud, and business email compromise.

Canadian consumers who have lost money to fraud should report to the CAFC and their financial institution; FINTRAC does not accept direct consumer reports. However, understanding FINTRAC's role is useful context for fraud recovery: if funds were processed through a Canadian financial institution, FINTRAC's reporting obligations may have generated intelligence relevant to a police investigation. Victims who want to know whether their case is being investigated should contact the RCMP or their provincial police service.