Cheque Deposit Fraud Consequences

Summary

The user fell victim to a cheque deposit fraud scheme in Canada. They shared their debit card information with the fraudsters, leading to a financial loss. The user has reported the incident to their bank, the local police, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The bank has initiated an investigation and placed a hold on the users account. The user is concerned about potential liability for the fraudulent transactions and associated fees. They have also placed a fraud alert on their account with TransUnion. The user is seeking legal advice and has been directed to contact Legal Aid Ontario.

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I’m a victim of cheque deposit fraud and need advice
What state are you currently residing in, ****? This will help me provide you with the most accurate information.
I live in Canada
When did this cheque deposit fraud occur, ****? In Canada, you generally have six years to file a lawsuit for fraud.
yesterday
Can you provide more details about the fraud incident?

In Canada:
- Cheque fraud is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code.
- Contact your local police and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
they deposited money into my account and asked me to send an X amount back
Did you send the money back as they requested? In Canada, it's important to report such incidents to your bank and local law enforcement immediately.
Yeah I did sadly, I’ve already reached out and notified the police and my bank changed my bank card and passwords etc. I’m just afraid I’m going to have to pay back all the fees
Did you provide any personal information to the fraudsters? In Canada, victims of fraud are generally not responsible for the losses unless they contributed to the loss by providing personal information.
just my debit card number, they had a website that was pretty legitimate looking to have me to it
Did you share your debit card number on their website? In Canada, sharing such information can make you partially liable. Always verify the legitimacy of a website before sharing personal information.
Not their website but one they gave me
Did you verify the legitimacy of the website they directed you to before providing your debit card information?
it said before I typed in that it was rated on trusted pilot so I figured it would be okay
Did you report the fraudulent website to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre as well?
yes
What was the response from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre?

In Canada:
- Always verify the legitimacy of a website before sharing personal information.
- Victims of fraud are generally not responsible for the losses unless they contributed to the loss by providing personal information.
haven’t gotten one back yet, I also notified my TransUnion
What was TransUnion's response to your notification? In Canada, credit bureaus can place a fraud alert on your account to prevent further unauthorized activities.
they placed a fraud alert on my account
What further steps did TransUnion advise you to take after placing the fraud alert on your account?
they told me to watch for more unauthorized transactions and to keep my passwords changed
What other steps have you taken to secure your personal information and prevent further unauthorized transactions?
I’ve switched my debit card and password, put a hold on my bank account for the amount on hold
What is the name of your bank? It's important to keep them informed about any updates regarding this fraud case.
bank of NovaScotia
What is the response from Bank of NovaScotia regarding this fraud case?
they are investigating the case it will take up to ten business days
What is the amount you are potentially liable for due to this fraud?
over * and any other fees I won’t be able to pay due to losing the money
What steps has the Bank of NovaScotia advised you to take while they are investigating the case?
just to watch out for any other transactions and that they will get back to me
Have you considered seeking legal representation to help you navigate this situation?
that’s what I’m doing now but I’m broke
Are you aware of any legal aid services in your area that offer free or low-cost assistance? In Canada, many provinces have legal aid services for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer.
no I’m not aware it’s my first time ever in this situation
What province in Canada are you located in? This will help me provide you with information about legal aid services in your area.
Ontario Trenton
What is the exact amount you are potentially liable for due to this fraud?
* plus additional fees of nsf fees
What are the NSF fees that you are referring to?
my bank will apply NSF fees to my account when I don’t have the money to cover the loss of the cheques
What is the amount of the NSF fees your bank will apply?
* dollars per returned paument
What is the total number of returned payments you are expecting?
Have you contacted Legal Aid Ontario for assistance with your case?

Explanation: Legal Aid Ontario provides free legal services for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer. Their contact number is *-*-*-*.
*
What is the total amount of NSF fees you are expecting to be charged?
*
What is the total amount you are potentially liable for, including the NSF fees?
*
What steps has Legal Aid Ontario advised you to take?

In Ontario:
- Legal Aid Ontario provides free legal services. Contact them at *-*-*-*.
- Report fraud to local police and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Legal aid Ontario didn’t have an option for my situation
What specific advice or assistance were you hoping to receive from Legal Aid Ontario?
im a victim of fraud
What specific type of assistance or advice are you seeking in regards to your fraud case?
am I liable to pay back any of the fake cheques the were deposited into my account, I didn’t know they were cheques and someone had access to my account
Did you authorize the person who had access to your account to deposit the cheques?
I didn’t know he was depositing cheques no
Did you give this person permission to access your account in any way?
I thought it was a loan company and gave them the needed information so they could send me the money, but I was tricked
Did you sign any agreement or contract with the supposed loan company?
no I didn’t sign any contract
What actions did the supposed loan company ask you to take after depositing the money into your account?
to send the money back to verify that I got it
Did you send the money back to the supposed loan company as they requested?
yes
What was the method you used to send the money back to the supposed loan company?
e transfer
What was the amount you transferred back to the supposed loan company?
* and then *
What was the reason given by the supposed loan company for asking you to send back the money?
to verify that I did get the money and that they would send it back
What was the name of the supposed loan company?
they went under the name symbleloans but it wasn’t the actual company
Did you report the fraudulent activity under the name "symbleloans" to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police?
yes I did
What was the response from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police regarding the fraudulent activity under the name "symbleloans"?
I haven’t gotten a response yet
What is the status of the investigation with your bank, Bank of NovaScotia?
they put money on hold for 20 days and are doing an investigation that will take * business days
What is the total amount of money that has been put on hold by the Bank of NovaScotia?
*
What is the total amount you lost in this fraud incident?