--- title: "Scams in Canada: latest scams and where to report" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams-in-canada source: TapSafely description: "The scams hitting people in Canada most, official figures, who scammers pretend to be, and where to report a scam." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scams by country](https://tapsafely.com/scams-by-country)/ Canada Scams by country # Scams in Canada: what to watch for right now A plain summary of the scams official agencies in Canada warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 ## The numbers Canadians reported losing over $704 million to fraud in 2025, across more than 112,000 fraud reports. [Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/features-vedette/2026/02/month-prevention-mois-eng.htm) Only 5% to 10% of frauds are reported, and reported losses since 2022 have passed $2.4 billion (figures published March 2026). [Competition Bureau Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/competition-bureau/news/2026/03/fraud-prevention-month-to-bring-hidden-crime-into-the-spotlight.html) ## Scams to watch for in Canada Common in Canada ### Investment scams The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recorded $351 million in investment fraud losses in 2025, the highest of any fraud type. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams) Common in Canada ### Romance scams The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recorded $63.3 million in romance fraud losses in 2025, one of the top three frauds by money lost. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/romance-scams) Common in Canada ### Job scams The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recorded $50.6 million in job scam losses in 2025, one of the top three frauds by money lost. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/task-job-scams) Common in Canada ### Fake bank investigator calls The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 2,167 fraud investigator scam reports in 2025, with $28.3 million lost. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/bank-safe-account-scam) Common in Canada ### Phishing messages Phishing was among the ten most reported fraud types in 2025, with 2,869 reports to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/phishing-links) Common in Canada ### Merchandise scams The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 2,596 merchandise scam reports in 2025, with $11.7 million lost. [How to spot it](https://tapsafely.com/scams/fake-online-shops) ## Who scammers pretend to be Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) · Banks and financial institutions · Police and law enforcement · Credit reporting agencies · Amazon · Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself. ## If you've been scammed in Canada 1. If you already sent money, tell the financial institution you sent it through as soon as possible. 2. Call your local police, especially if you lost money. 3. Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by calling 1-888-495-8501. 4. Place a fraud alert and check your credit report with Equifax (1-888-836-6351) and TransUnion (1-800-663-9980). ## Where to report a scam in Canada - [Report fraud or cybercrime to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre](https://reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca/) · **1-888-495-8501** - Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM) · **7726** Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work. ## Scam Weather for Canada Loading… ### Got a suspicious message? Check it free. It works in any language. [Check a message](https://tapsafely.com/#check) ## Questions What are the most common scams in Canada? According to official sources: Investment scams, Romance scams, Job scams, Fake bank investigator calls, Phishing messages, Merchandise scams. What should I do first if I've been scammed in Canada? If you already sent money, tell the financial institution you sent it through as soon as possible. Call your local police, especially if you lost money. Who do scammers pretend to be in Canada? Official warnings mention Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Banks and financial institutions, Police and law enforcement, Credit reporting agencies, Amazon, Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. ## Official sources and further reading Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources. - [Fraud Prevention Month 2026](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/features-vedette/2026/02/month-prevention-mois-eng.htm) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) - [How to report fraud and scams in Canada](https://competition-bureau.canada.ca/en/fraud-and-scams/tips-and-advice/how-report-fraud-and-scams-canada) (Competition Bureau Canada) - [Bank investigator](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/b-investigator-enqueteur-eng.htm) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) - [Scams and fraud](https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html) (Canada Revenue Agency)