TalkScams Team · Educational guide · Reviewed 2026-11-07
Shared your SIN with a fake job recruiter? What to do next
A Canadian Social Insurance Number shared with an unknown recruiter can create identity-fraud risk. Exposure does not prove fraud occurred. These are practical checks to take without paying a recovery service.
What to do now
- Stop sending documents or personal details and save the job posting, conversation, email headers and payment requests privately.
- Check your bank statements and accounts for unexpected activity. Contact your financial institution using its official app or the number on your card if anything looks wrong.
- Review your credit reports with Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada for unknown accounts or inquiries; ask about a fraud alert if appropriate.
Follow-up checks and reporting
- Check your My Service Canada Account for employment records you do not recognize and monitor CRA correspondence for unexpected reassessments.
- If you discover actual fraudulent use, report it to local police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and affected financial institutions, and keep your case details.
- Continue monitoring; Service Canada warns that a replacement SIN generally is not recommended and does not erase misuse of the previous number.
Watch for a follow-up scam
- A supposed investigator requests more identification or an advance fee to fix your SIN.
- A new message claims your exposed SIN means you must immediately purchase an identity service.
Original source: Service Canada — SIN fraud and data breaches
Educational information only. No guarantee of recovery.