Section 1
Every day, Canadians are targeted by people who make a living through deception. In 2024 alone, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received reports totalling more than $643 million in losses — and experts estimate that only 5 to 10 percent of fraud is ever reported. The true cost is likely far higher.
But here is something important to understand from the start: getting caught in a scam does not mean you were careless, naive, or not smart enough. These are sophisticated, professional criminals who have refined their techniques over years. They are skilled at manipulating even the most cautious people.
Understanding how scams work — and why you may be a target — is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect yourself.
Scammers are not random. They have clear goals, and almost every scam is designed to get one of four things:
The most obvious goal. Scammers may ask you to wire money, transfer e-funds, buy gift cards, or send cash. Once money moves this way, it is almost impossible to get back.
Your Social Insurance Number, date of birth, passwords, and banking details are extremely valuable. This information can be used to steal your identity, open accounts in your name, or be sold to other criminals.
Some scammers want access to your bank account, email, or computer. With access, they can drain your savings, make purchases in your name, or use your accounts as a springboard to target others.
Not every scam is purely about money. Some are designed to isolate you from family and friends, create dependency, or manipulate you into ongoing compliance. Romance scams, in particular, often prioritize emotional control.
Let's be very clear: seniors are targeted not because they are gullible or naive, but because scammers see them as having specific qualities that make them valuable targets.
There is also a biological dimension worth knowing about. Research has found that as we age, the part of the brain that processes social trust signals becomes less active. This makes it harder to pick up on subtle cues that someone's intentions may not be genuine — not because of any reduction in intelligence or judgment, but because of changes in how the brain processes information.
This is not a reason to feel embarrassed or discouraged. It is simply useful to know — and it is exactly why building awareness and practical habits matters so much.
No matter how different a scam looks on the surface — whether it arrives by phone, email, text, or a knock at your door — almost every scam follows the same basic pattern. Understanding this formula is one of the most useful tools you have.
The scammer makes contact — by phone, email, text, social media, mail, or in person. Their goal is simply to get your attention.
They create a reason to act now. Either something terrible will happen if you don't, or something wonderful is waiting. The goal is to make waiting feel dangerous or costly.
This is where they hook you. Fear, excitement, love, guilt, compassion — whichever emotion gets your brain moving faster than your judgment can keep up. Once strong emotions take over, our ability to think critically drops sharply.
Now they ask for what they actually want — money, personal information, account access, remote access to your computer, or your continued participation.
They often try to prevent you from talking to anyone else. "Don't tell your family." "This is a confidential investigation." Isolation keeps the scam alive and prevents the reality check that would end it.
Am I feeling rushed or pressured right now? Am I being asked to keep this secret from someone I trust? Does something feel off, even if I can't explain why?
If the answer to any of these is yes — stop. Take a breath. Call someone you trust before doing anything.
Scam tactics change constantly — new stories, new technology, new platforms. But the categories they fall into have stayed remarkably consistent for decades. Recognising these patterns means you don't have to learn each new scam from scratch. Once you see the category, you can spot the warning signs. Tap each one to open it.
Someone pretends to be a trusted authority — a government agency, your bank, a police officer, a utility company, or even a family member — to gain your trust and then your money or information.
Common examples:
Government agencies and banks will never ask you to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. They will never ask for your password or PIN over the phone. If in doubt, hang up and call the official number directly — using a number you find yourself, not one you were given.
A message arrives — by phone, email, or text — threatening serious consequences if you don't act immediately. The goal is to create panic so powerful that your judgment shuts down.
Common examples:
Real government agencies do not threaten arrest, deportation, or loss of benefits in a single unexpected phone call. If a message is designed to make you feel afraid, that fear is likely intentional. Slow down.
These scams work by building an emotional connection — romantic, familial, or friendly — before asking for money or help. They exploit your love and compassion, which makes them especially painful when discovered.
Common examples:
Legitimate emergencies — no matter how real they feel — do not require secrecy from your family. Before sending any money to a person you haven't met in person, call a trusted family member. If someone claims to be your grandchild, hang up and call your grandchild directly on a number you already have.
These scams offer financial opportunities that seem too good to pass up — unusually high returns, exclusive access, or a "guaranteed" profit. They often use convincing materials, professional-looking platforms, and real-sounding testimonials.
Common examples:
No legitimate investment guarantees high returns with no risk. Be especially cautious of investment platforms you learned about through a personal connection rather than a regulated financial institution. If you're unsure, check the advisor or investment with your provincial securities regulator.
A message arrives claiming you're about to be charged for a subscription or service — often one you don't recognise — and urging you to call or click a link to cancel.
Common examples:
If you are unsure whether you have a subscription with a company, look up their official website and call them directly. Never call the number provided in a suspicious message.
A pop-up appears on your computer, or you receive an unsolicited phone call, claiming your device has a serious problem that needs immediate attention. The goal is to get remote access to your computer or payment for a fake "fix."
Common examples:
Microsoft, Apple, and your internet provider will never call you out of the blue about a problem with your computer. Never allow remote access to your device from someone who contacts you. If you receive a suspicious pop-up, close your browser or restart your computer — do not call the number shown.
A notification arrives — by phone, mail, email, or social media — telling you that you've won a prize. But claiming it requires a payment, personal information, or both.
Common examples:
If you didn't enter, you can't win. No legitimate lottery or prize ever requires you to pay a fee to claim your winnings. Any required "processing fee," "tax payment," or "insurance deposit" is a sign of a scam.
One of the most important recent developments in fraud is the use of artificial intelligence. Scammers now have access to tools that allow them to:
This means that even if you think you hear your grandchild's voice on the phone, or see a familiar face in a video, it may not be real. The grandparent scam has become significantly more sophisticated because of voice cloning technology.
The goal of this section was not to make you suspicious of everyone — it was to show you the patterns behind the scenes. Once you can see the formula, no matter what the scam looks like on the surface, you have a much better chance of spotting it.