March is Fraud Prevention Month. Law enforcement and officials with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are warning people about the masks of fraud.
Think before you click is the key message from the anti-fraud centre, which kicked off the awareness campaign Tuesday afternoon at its headquarters in North Bay, Ont.
The campaign highlights the deceptive techniques fraudsters use in today’s digital age. Officials said scams can take many forms and they have many masks in the cyber age.
“There are new frauds each and every day -- there’s a new twist to these frauds,” anti-fraud centre acting manager Jeff Thomson said.
“The fraudsters are sophisticated. They’re using new technology. So, it’s really about informing Canadians to stay on top of what’s changing.”
Cyber-enabled fraud accounted for 75 per cent of reported losses, reflecting the increasing sophistication of online crime. The anti-fraud centre aims to equip Canadians with the tools and strategies they need to recognize, reject and report cyber fraud.
“Telephone and SMS/text messaging remain, probably, the top reported contact method that fraudsters are using today,” Thomson said.
“The technology of the fraudsters makes these texts seem legitimate.”
Last year, the anti-fraud centre received fraud reports totalling $638 million, soaring past the previous record of $578 million set in 2023.
According to the anti-fraud centre, the five most common frauds that hoodwink Canadians are:
- Investment fraud represented $310 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $102.7 million.
- Spearphishing fraud (business email compromise) represented $67.2 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $39.5 million.
- Romance fraud represented $58.4 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $19 million.
- Job scams represented $47.1 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $14.8 million.
- Extortion fraud represented $21 million in reported losses in 2024. Ontario victims reported losing more than $6.8 million.
“They’re going to ask you for money upfront. They’re going to they’re going to tell you not to talk to anybody. They’re going to make everything seem real,” Thomson said.
“They’re going to say that they’re the police or that they’re a government agency.”
Dozens of reports since Jan. 1
According to North Bay police, officers have received 63 reports of fraud since Jan. 1. In 2024, there were more than 300 fraud calls. Deputy police chief Michael Dazé said they are “on the same track for this year.”
“If you hear this stuff, tell a couple of people,” Dazé said.
“If we think about how that carries through our community and if we can spread that information, then collectively as a community, we start combating crime.”
What law enforcement agencies stress is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
If you suspect fraud or have been a victim, report it to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501, or online through the fraud reporting system.
