Search Before You Sign: BCFSA Kicks Off 2026 Fraud Prevention Campaign

When it comes to buying or selling a home, getting a mortgage, or finding the right credit union or insurance company, a simple online search could be the difference between making a confident decision or a costly regret.

That’s why BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) is kicking off Fraud Prevention Month with its “Before You Sign, Search” campaign to help consumers during some of life’s biggest financial decisions.

Some individuals or businesses may offer services they aren’t authorized to provide in B.C., and fraudsters can sometimes pose as legitimate professionals.

So, before you commit, check that the financial professional or financial institution is authorized by BCFSA to provide financial services, whether it’s a real estate licensee, mortgage broker, credit union, trust, or insurance company.

Taking that step can help you make your next financial decision with confidence and protect yourself against scams and financial loss.

Tips for what to verify include:

• A financial professional’s contact details, license category, conditions or restrictions, and recent discipline history; and
• A financial institution’s authority to sell products or services, such as insurance or taking deposits.

“We know that what matters most to consumers is that they can trust the professionals who are helping them make some of life’s most important financial decisions,” said Tolga Yalkin, BCFSA’s CEO.

“BCFSA ensures that those financial professionals are licensed and financial institutions are authorized to conduct business in our province, and we urge consumers to verify their credentials so that they can move forward with confidence.”

View our Search Before You Sign campaign video.

About BCFSA

BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) regulates financial services in British Columbia. As a Crown agency of the Government of British Columbia, BCFSA oversees credit unions, trusts, insurance companies, pension plans, mortgage services, real estate services, and real estate development marketing. BCFSA also administers the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (CUDIC). BCFSA has a mandate to build and maintain confidence in the financial services sector by focusing on consumer protection and the safety, soundness, and resiliency of our regulated entities.

Media Contact:

Lindsey Norris
Communications Manager, media@bcfsa.ca
Visit: www.bcfsa.ca