Combatting financial crime
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In order to combat financial crime, the RCMP:
- investigates reports of laundered money
- identifies and seizes profits and/or assets acquired from illegal activities
- records financial information about organized crime groups
- helps other agencies with their investigations upon their request
- investigates reports of serious fraud and corruption
- works closely with governmental partners, stakeholders and representatives of other law enforcement agencies at the national and international level
The best way to combat economic crime is through prevention. Public awareness is an important tool in preventing the victimization of Canadians. The RCMP, in partnership with the public and private sectors, is committed to educating the public on ways to protect themselves from economic crimes.
Reporting financial crime
You can report financial crimes to your local RCMP detachment and/or to your police of jurisdiction.
Scams and fraud
If you have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, please contact your local police.
If you want to report an instance of a scam, fraud or cybercrime, whether you are a victim or not, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- Report it online
- Online Fraud Reporting System
- Toll free
- 1-888-495-8501
Teams
- Federal Policing Serious and Organized Crime
- Financial crime investigators partner with Federal Policing Serious and Organized Crime to enhance investigations and ensure the financial components of an investigation are pursued from the onset.
- Financial Crime Coordination Center
- The Financial Crime Coordination Center, previously known as the Anti-Money Laundering Action, Coordination, and Enforcement Team, was introduced by the Canadian government in 2019. The team brings together experts from across intelligence and law enforcement agencies to identify and address significant financial crime threats.
- Integrated Market Enforcement Teams
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Integrated Market Enforcement Teams are led by the RCMP and investigate criminals using capital markets to harm the economic interests of Canadians. These teams are made up of police officers, lawyers and other investigative experts.
Officers chosen for deployment with an Integrated Market Enforcement Team are highly qualified financial investigators. They receive extra market-related training and stay informed with the latest techniques and legal developments in their field.
- Integrated Market Enforcement Team partners
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Teams are located in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, but investigate across the country. Partners include:
- Finance Canada
- Justice Canada
- Public Prosecution Service Canada
- Public Safety Canada
- Members from securities regulators
- Members from the Forensic Accounting Management Group
- Members from law enforcement agencies of local jurisdictions
- Representatives of other federal enforcement agencies
- Federal Integrated Money Laundering Investigation Teams
- Federal Integrated Money Laundering Investigation Teams are integrated partnerships with policing partners and other federal agencies, specifically the Canada Revenue Agency, the Forensic Accounting Management Group and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. These integrated teams allow the RCMP to be more intelligence-led, maximizing its integrated approach to identify, seize, restrain and forfeit illicit and unreported wealth accumulated by organized crime groups.
- Police of jurisdiction
- In parts of the country where the RCMP does not have primary jurisdiction for policing, the municipal and provincial services enforce Criminal Code offences. Some provincial, regional and municipal police services may have dedicated financial crime resources mandated to combat financial crime.
Initiatives and taskforces
Financial Action Task Force
Canada is a member of the Financial Action Task Force. The task force sets standards and promotes the implementation of measures to combat:
- money laundering
- terrorist financing
- other threats to the international financial system
International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre
The International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre supports law enforcement agencies investigations into crimes of grand corruption.
The function of the centre is to:
- inform which organizations and initiatives can offer assistance
- assist with practical actions and advice
- collect information to form a single picture of grand corruption
- coordinate an effective global law enforcement response
- collaborate by creating a constructive, cooperative and agreed approach
To learn more about the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre – and to access an information leaflet – please visit the following pages:
International Foreign Bribery Taskforce
The International Foreign Bribery Taskforce fights trans-border foreign bribery, helping law enforcement partners share information and best practices in investigating economic crimes.
The RCMP is a member of the International Foreign Bribery Taskforce, along with:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- New Zealand Police
- Australian Federal Police
- United Kingdom National Crime Agency
- New Zealand Serious Fraud Office
National Initiative to Combat Money Laundering (Anti-Terrorist Financing)
From this initiative came the creation of:
- the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, which helps combat the laundering of proceeds of crime and combatting the financing of terrorist activities.
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, which receives, analyses, assesses and discloses financial intelligence on suspected money laundering, terrorist financing and threats to the security of Canada.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organization that works to shape policies that foster:
- prosperity
- equality
- opportunity
- well-being
Through the organization's standards, programmes and initiatives, member countries help drive reform in 100+ countries around the world. Canada is one of many members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Asset Recovery Interagency Network
Federal Policing Criminal Operations – Financial Crime, with the assistance of RCMP Liaison Officers, work with our domestic and international partners to facilitate and promote the informal sharing of information related to the cross-border identification, freezing, seizure, and confiscation of the proceeds of crime. Through the Network, the RCMP has established a group of contacts concerned with all aspects of confiscating the proceeds of crime and which provides a mechanism for the international tracing of assets.
Partners
The RCMP works collaboratively with partner agencies to dismantle organized crime groups. Learn more about our partners and what services they offer:
- Canadian Anti Fraud Centre
- National Cybercrime Coordination Centre
- Canada Border Services Agency
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Finance Canada
- Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
- Justice Canada
- Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
- Public Prosecution Service of Canada
- Public Safety Canada
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