Discovering accounts you never opened on your Equifax report is alarming. The good news is that Canadian consumer protection law gives you strong tools, and the process for clearing identity theft from your credit file is well-established. Here is the exact sequence.
If you have not seen the overall dispute framework, start with how to dispute errors on your Canadian credit report.
First 24 Hours: The Critical Steps
Speed matters with identity theft because fraudulent accounts can continue to be opened while you are cleaning up existing ones. Four steps within the first 24 hours set up everything that follows.
Step 1: Pull your full Equifax and TransUnion reports. You need to see every account, every inquiry, and every piece of personal information currently on your file. If unfamiliar accounts or inquiries exist, list them.
Step 2: Place a 6-year fraud alert with Equifax. Call 1-866-828-5961 or file through myEquifax. The alert tells any lender who pulls your file to take extra steps to verify identity before issuing credit. It lasts 6 years and is free.
Step 3: Place a 6-year fraud alert with TransUnion. Call 1-800-663-9980 or file through the TransUnion consumer portal. TransUnion does not automatically share fraud alerts with Equifax, so you need to file separately.
Step 4: File a police report. This is the single most important document for every dispute that follows. Visit your local police service (online reporting works in many jurisdictions) and describe what has happened. Get a copy of the report with the file number.
Placing the Fraud Alert with Equifax
The 6-year fraud alert is the strongest protective tool Equifax offers consumers. When active, any lender who pulls your Equifax file sees an alert requiring them to contact you directly to verify identity before issuing credit. This stops most new fraudulent accounts from being opened.
You can place the alert by phone (1-866-828-5961, automated) or online through myEquifax. The request is processed within 1 to 2 business days. Confirmation arrives by mail.
A shorter 6-year alert is specific to confirmed fraud victims. A "temporary" 90-day alert exists for people who suspect fraud but do not yet have confirmation. If you have a police report, go straight to the 6-year alert.
Filing Disputes for Each Fraudulent Account
Each fraudulent account requires its own bureau dispute. This is tedious but necessary. Bulk disputes (disputing five accounts in one submission) are sometimes rejected as "frivolous." File each one separately through the myEquifax dispute center.
For each dispute, include the following: a copy of the police report (with file number), a written statement saying you did not open this account and the account is the result of identity theft, and identification matching the name on your Equifax file.
Describe the dispute clearly. Example: "This account was opened fraudulently using my identity. I never applied for or opened this account. Police report [file number] attached. Please remove this account immediately."
For the portal walkthrough, see how to dispute with Equifax Canada online.
Equifax ID Theft Claim vs Standard Dispute
Equifax offers a specific "Identity Theft" claim track that is distinct from the standard dispute process. When you select identity theft as the dispute type, the file is routed to a specialized fraud investigation team rather than the general dispute team. The fraud team has more authority to remove items based on the police report alone.
The 30-day investigation window still applies. The removal rate is typically higher than standard disputes because the police report is treated as strong evidence.
Coordinating with TransUnion
Every step above also needs to happen with TransUnion. The two bureaus do not share dispute data, fraud alerts, or investigation results. You file a 6-year alert with TransUnion separately, and you file disputes for each fraudulent account through the TransUnion portal.
If the same fraudulent account appears on both reports, you file two separate disputes. The good news is that the evidence package (police report, written statement, ID) is the same for both bureaus, so preparing it once covers everything.
The step-by-step for TransUnion is in how to dispute with TransUnion Canada online.
Contacting Each Fraudulent Creditor Directly
While the bureau disputes are running, contact every lender whose fraudulent account is on your file. You have two goals: stop any ongoing activity on the account, and get the lender to stop reporting it.
Call the fraud department (every major Canadian lender has one). Provide the police report file number. Ask them to close the account, mark it as fraud, and remove it from both credit bureaus. Request written confirmation of each of these actions.
Creditor-initiated removals are often faster than bureau disputes. A bureau dispute takes 30 days. A creditor directly instructing the bureau to remove can take 7 to 14 days.
Monitoring Going Forward
Identity theft often continues after the first wave of fraudulent accounts is cleaned up. Set up ongoing monitoring to catch new activity.
Credit monitoring services (Borrowell for Equifax, Credit Karma for TransUnion) are free and alert you to new inquiries or accounts. Turn these on immediately.
Pull both credit reports every 60 days for the first year after the fraud is discovered. This is more frequent than normal, but it catches any lingering or new fraudulent activity.
If new fraudulent accounts appear, the fraud alert you already placed makes them easier to dispute because lenders who ignored the alert can be held partially liable under consumer protection law.
For the broader recovery playbook, see credit repair after identity theft in Canada.
When to Get Professional Help
Identity theft cases with three or more fraudulent accounts, or cases where disputes are being verified despite a police report, are where professional help is worth the flat fee. We coordinate disputes with both bureaus, work with each fraudulent creditor directly, and track the full cleanup over the 60 to 120 days it typically takes.
Call (437) 755-6579 for a free initial consultation. 8 languages, flat fee, no monthly payments.