Common Scams and Phishing in Canada
A friend of mine recently received a phone call from someone claiming to be a government official. They told her she was going to be arrested unless she sent a payment immediately. Panicked, she followed their instructions and ended up losing over a thousand dollars before realizing it was a scam. Another friend had a repair person come to her house to fix her fridge. He told her it needed a new motherboard, charging her hundreds of dollars for the consultation. After the repair, the fridge still didn’t work—turns out, it was never actually fixable in the first place.
Then there’s the pizza and taxi scam, where fraudsters pretend to be without their debit cards and want to give their cash to you while you use your debit card to help them pay for their cab or their pizza. This leads to multiple transactions showing up on your account. And lately, in Toronto, a few people have been going door-to-door offering roofing services. They take upfront payments and disappear without doing any work or the work is so shoddy that you’ll have to pay more to fix what they did. These are just a few examples of how scammers operate, preying on unsuspecting victims in a variety of ways.
Scams and phishing attacks are on the rise, and Canada is no exception. Fraudsters use various tactics to deceive individuals and businesses, often leading to financial loss and identity theft. Here are some of the most common scams currently happening in Canada:
1. Phishing Scams
Phishing scams involve fraudulent emails, text messages, or phone calls that appear to be from legitimate sources such as banks, government agencies, or popular companies. Scammers attempt to trick individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords, banking details, or Social Insurance Numbers (SIN). A common example is emails pretending to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), claiming a tax refund or demanding immediate payment.
2. Fake Government Calls
Fraudsters often impersonate government officials from agencies like the CRA or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They may threaten individuals with legal action or deportation if they do not immediately pay a supposed fine. These scams typically involve aggressive tactics to pressure victims into compliance.
3. Online Marketplace Scams
Scammers take advantage of platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and Craigslist by offering fake products or requesting upfront payments for goods that never arrive. Some also pose as buyers and send fraudulent payment links to sellers, tricking them into revealing their banking information.
4. Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
With the rise of digital currency, investment scams have become more prevalent. Fraudsters promote fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities with promises of high returns. Victims often realize too late that they have transferred money to a fraudulent scheme.
5. Romance Scams
Romance scammers create fake online dating profiles to build emotional connections with victims. Once trust is established, they ask for money, often citing emergencies or travel expenses. Many victims lose thousands of dollars before realizing they have been deceived.
6. Tech Support Scams
Scammers pose as tech support representatives from well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple, claiming that a victim’s computer is infected with a virus. They request remote access to the device and charge fees for unnecessary repairs or steal sensitive information.
7. Job Offer Scams
Fake job postings lure job seekers with promises of high-paying remote work. Victims are often asked to pay for training, background checks, or equipment before realizing that the job does not exist.
How to Protect Yourself
- Never share personal information over email, text, or phone unless you are certain of the recipient’s legitimacy.
- Verify sources by contacting institutions directly using official contact details.
- Be cautious of urgent requests for payment or sensitive details.
- Research investment opportunities and job offers before committing money.
- Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts.
Staying informed and vigilant can help you avoid falling victim to these scams. If you suspect fraud, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.