Financial Crimes Unit

Message from the Unit Commander

Financial Crimes, formerly known as the Fraud Squad, has not only changed its label but its focus.

This unit, stemming from the oldest investigative squad in the Toronto Police Service, is comprised of a group of dedicated investigators.

The members of this unit, both civilian and officers, boast a very diverse policing background. Their experience affords them a required skill, and expertise in dealing with these types of crime and offenders.

Every victim of a financial crime is treated with dignity, and professionalism. All investigations are conducted with pride and diligence.

I invite you to read further and learn about what we do, how we do it, and how to protect yourself against any type of financial crime.

If you feel that you have been a victim, or someone you know may be a victim, you may call and report the incident to any Toronto Police Station, or by contacting the main Toronto Police switchboard at 416-808-2222.

The Financial Crime Unit strives to work in partnership with our communities to prevent these types of offenders, and also identifying them in order to bring them to justice.

Mandates by section

Operations Section – Asset Forfeiture

Identify assets obtained by individuals through criminal activity and seek the restraint, seizure and forfeiture of those assets. The Asset Forfeiture Section shall:

• Assume responsibility and carriage of proceeds of crime and money laundering investigations.
• Review all incoming information from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and provide the appropriate response where required.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with other law enforcement and government agencies, financial institutions and other specialized resource areas that may assist with proceeds of crime and money laundering investigations.
• Provide training for other members of the Service at various levels where required.
• Monitor and provide support to members who have investigations where there is a proceeds of crime component.
• Provide expertise in proceeds of crime investigations.
• Assist other law enforcement agencies in conducting investigations within Toronto.
• Ensure all field units are advised of the capabilities and the potential investigative assistance that the Proceeds of Crime Unit can provide to ensure a complete and successful criminal investigation.

Corporate Crimes Section

Corporate Financial Crimes Investigators have the responsibilities of leading multi jurisdictional investigations of major economic financial crimes involving stock market & securities violations, real estate financial crimes, insurance and investment financial crimes, and public financial crimes involving large numbers of victims.

Organized Crime Section

Responsibilities of the Organized Crime Section include:

• the commencement or coordination of investigations into organized crime, or multi jurisdictional fraud occurrences involving the manufacturing, forgery, and distribution of payment cards, currency, cheques and other valuable instruments.
• major fraud investigations involving organized fraudulent marketing schemes including a variety of cash or prize winnings, advance fee loans, cheque cashing schemes, and other similar scams targeting the general public originating within the Metropolitan Toronto boundaries.
• To facilitate such extensive investigations, The Financial Crimes Unit is base for the "Toronto Strategic Partnership", a multi law enforcement unit pooling resources and investigators from the Competition Bureau of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services, Ontario Ministry of Revenue, Ontario Provincial Police Anti-Rackets, The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, RCMP-GTA Commercial Crime Section, U.S. Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.K. Office of Fair Trading.