Report scams & complaints

BC Securities Commission's role

The BCSC can take certain actions to help investors, but there are other actions we cannot take because they fall outside of our legal authority.

The BCSC can:

  • answer general questions about investment products and services
  • tell you if a firm or representative is registered in British Columbia
  • tell you if an individual or firm has ever been disciplined by the BCSC
  • suggest options for pursuing your complaint and tell you which organization may be of the most help
  • enforce compliance with securities legislation
  • act against market misconduct, including removing from the market those who do not comply with the law or who cheat investors

The BCSC cannot:

  • force someone to give your money back
  • undo a transaction
  • give advice on an investment
  • give legal advice
  • negotiate a settlement on your behalf
  • comment on an investigation

Our role

The BCSC can remove the registration of an investment firm and its representatives, or take enforcement action, like banning wrongdoers from the market and fining them. But, we cannot force someone to give investors’ money back. Only very rarely are we able to help recover investors' money as part of a regulatory enforcement action. If this is your goal, there are other avenues available to you — from dealing directly with the firm to taking legal action. This guide describes your options.

There are two general categories of complaint. Please choose the one that best describes your situation to find out what your options are:

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