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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 teamUpdated

The numbers

Canadians reported losing over $704 million to fraud in 2025, across more than 112,000 fraud reports.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

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

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
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
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
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
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
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

Who scammers pretend to be

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)Banks and financial institutionsPolice and law enforcementCredit reporting agenciesAmazonCanadian 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

Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work.

Scam Weather for Canada

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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.