Scam Protection
Learn to identify and avoid common scams targeting newcomers in Canada.
If you have been scammed, call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre immediately:
Common Scams Targeting Newcomers
Click on each scam type to see real examples, red flags, and sample scam messages.
Common Examples
- رسائل بريد إلكتروني تدّعي أنها من IRCC تطلب منك دفع الرسوم عبر بطاقات الهدايا أو الحوالات المصرفية
- مستشارون وهميون يتقاضون آلاف الدولارات لكنهم غير مرخصين ويقدمون طلبات احتيالية أو لا يقدمون شيئًا على الإطلاق
- مكالمات هاتفية تدّعي وجود مشكلة في ملف الهجرة الخاص بك وتطلب منك الدفع فورًا لتجنب الترحيل
- مواقع بوابات IRCC مزيفة تسرق بيانات تسجيل الدخول الخاصة بك ومعلوماتك الشخصية
- مكالمات صوتية مولدة بالذكاء الاصطناعي تنتحل شخصية موظفي IRCC وتبدو واقعية تمامًا
- منتحلو شخصية RCMP أو CBSA يدّعون صدور مذكرة توقيف بحقك بسبب انتهاكات الهجرة
- رسائل WhatsApp من شخص يدّعي أنه مسؤول حكومي يعرض تسريع طلب الإقامة الدائمة الخاص بك مقابل رسوم
- إشعارات رسائل مباشرة مزيفة تقول إن تصريح دراستك أو عملك على وشك الانتهاء ويجب عليك التجديد عبر رابط فورًا
Red Flags
- IRCC لا تطلب أبدًا الدفع ببطاقات الهدايا، أو العملات المشفرة، أو الحوالات المصرفية
- مكالمات أو رسائل بريد إلكتروني غير مرغوب فيها تدّعي وجود مشاكل عاجلة في طلبك
- مستشارون يضمنون الموافقة أو يعدون بتسريع المعالجة مقابل دفع إضافي
- طلبات للحصول على رقم UCI الخاص بك، أو مسح ضوئي لجواز السفر، أو بيانات تسجيل الدخول إلى IRCC عبر البريد الإلكتروني أو الرسائل النصية
- الضغط للدفع فورًا دون إعطائك وقتًا للتحقق من الهوية أو استشارة أي شخص
- ضباط RCMP أو CBSA يهددون بالاعتقال عبر الهاتف ويطالبون بالدفع لتجنب ذلك
- أي مستشار غير مدرج في سجل CICC (College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants)
- مواقع ويب ذات عناوين URL مثل 'ircc-canada-portal.com' أو 'canada-immigration-services.org' وليست canada.ca
Example Scam Message
«عزيزي مقدم الطلب، تم وضع علامة على ملف الهجرة الخاص بك IMM-2025-XXXX للمراجعة العاجلة من قبل قسم أمن IRCC. تم تعليق معالجة طلب إقامتك الدائمة بسبب وثائق غير مكتملة. سيؤدي عدم دفع رسوم الإفراج الإدارية البالغة $750 في غضون 24 ساعة إلى إغلاق الملف تلقائيًا وإجراءات ترحيل محتملة. يجب أن يتم الدفع عبر Interac e-Transfer إلى: process.ircc.ca@gmail.com. لا تتصل بالمكتب الرئيسي لـ IRCC حيث أن هذا الأمر قيد المراجعة السرية.» هذا احتيال. تتوا��ل IRCC فقط عبر حسابك الآمن عبر الإنترنت أو البريد الرسمي إلى عنوانك المسجل.
Common Examples
- عروض عمل تتطلب منك الدفع مقابل مواد تدريبية أو زي موحد أو فحص خلفية قبل البدء
- وظائف العمل من المنزل التي تطلب منك إيداع شيكات وتحويل الأموال مرة أخرى، مما يجعلك مسؤولاً قانونيًا عن الاحتيال
- شركات تطلب رقم SIN الخاص بك، ونسخة من جواز السفر، وتفاصيل الحساب المصرفي قبل أي مقابلة أو عرض رسمي
- مُجندو LinkedIn مزيفون بملفات تعريف مصقولة يقدمون أدوارًا تدفع 50-100 دولار في الساعة مقابل خبرة قليلة
- شركات التسويق متعدد المستويات (MLM) المتنكرة في هيئة فرص عمل عادية
- خدمات 'مساعدة' تصريح العمل التي تستهدف العمال الأجانب المؤقتين، وتفرض رسومًا غير قانونية
- عمليات احتيال جمع السير الذاتية حيث تكون 'الوظيفة' وهمية ويتم بيع سيرتك الذاتية ورقم SIN الخاص بك لسارقي الهوية
- إعلانات وظائف حكومية مزيفة على Kijiji أو Facebook تدّعي أنها من Service Canada أو الحكومة الفيدرالية
Red Flags
- أصحاب العمل الشرعيون لا يطلبون منك أبدًا دفع أي رسوم للحصول على وظيفة
- عروض عمل تتلقاها دون التقدم بطلب أو بدون عملية مقابلة
- طلبات لتقديم معلومات مصرفية أو رقم SIN قبل التوظيف الرسمي
- أوصاف وظ��فية غامضة مع وعود برواتب غير واقعية
- التواصل فقط عبر حسابات Gmail أو Hotmail الشخصية، وليس نطاق شركة
- العرض يتطلب منك شراء وإعادة بيع منتج من مخزون تشتريه بنفسك
- إعلان الوظيفة يحتوي على أخطاء نحوية أو منسوخ ولصق من إعلان شرعي آخر بتفاصيل اتصال مختلفة
- صاحب العمل يضغط عليك للبدء فورًا وتخطي فحوصات المراجع أو العقود
Example Scam Message
«تهانينا! بعد مراجعة ملفك الشخصي على Indeed، نود أن نقدم لك وظيفة مدير خدمة عملاء عن بعد براتب 42 دولارًا في الساعة مع مزايا كاملة. قبل تاريخ بدء عملك الرسمي، ستحتاج إلى إكمال فحص خلفية إلزامي (150 دولارًا) وشراء حزمة معدات العمل من المنزل (350 دولارًا) من بائعنا المعتمد. سيتم تعويض كلاهما بالكامل في راتبك ا��أول. يرجى التأكيد بالرد باسمك الكامل وتاريخ ميلادك ورقم SIN وعنوان منزلك.» لا يطلب أي صاحب عمل شرعي منك دفع أي أموال قبل بدء العمل. التعويض لا يحدث أبدًا.
Common Examples
- قوائم وهمية: عقارات غير موجودة أو ليست للإيجار، تستخدم فقط لجمع الودائع
- إيجارات الطعم والتبديل: الوحدة المعلن عنها غير متاحة، ولكن يتم تقديم خيار أسوأ وأكثر تكلفة بمجرد وصولك
- أصحاب عقارات يدّعون أنهم في الخارج ولا يمكنهم عرض العق��ر، ويطلبون الإيجار 'لتأمين الوحدة'
- تأجيرات فرعية مدرجة دون علم أو إذن المالك، مما يعني أنك لا تملك عقد إيجار قانوني
- شركات إدارة عقارات مزيفة بمواقع ويب احترافية تجمع إيجار الشهر الأول والأخير ثم تختفي
- قوائم مكررة منسوخة من Zillow أو Rentals.ca بمعلومات اتصال مختلفة وسعر أقل
- طلبات لدفع إيجار سنة كاملة مقدمًا بـ 'خصم' قبل توقيع عقد إيجار رسمي
- محتالون يعرضون عليك وحدة حقيقية، يأخذون وديعتك، ثم يعرضون نفس الوحدة على خمسة أشخاص آخرين
Red Flags
- إيجار أقل بكثير من سعر السوق في الحي، حتى بمقدار 300 دولار أو أكثر
- المالك يرفض أو غير قادر على عرض العقار شخصيًا قبل الدفع
- طلبات للدفع عن طريق التحويل البنكي، أو التحويل الإلكتروني إلى حساب شخصي، أو العملات المشفرة
- الضغط لاتخاذ قرار فوري لأن العديد من الآخرين مهتمون
- لا يوجد عقد إيجار رسمي أو رفض تقديمه قبل الدفع
- المالك يدّعي أنه مبشر، أو ضابط عسكري، أو عامل إغاثة في الخارج
- العقار مدرج على منصات متعددة بأسعار مختلفة وصور مختلفة قليلاً
- المالك يطلب منك إرسال الإيجار عبر Facebook Pay، أو Zelle، أو العملات المشفرة لتجنب الرسوم
Example Scam Message
«شقة جميلة من غرفتي نوم بالقرب من وسط مدينة Vancouver، 1,100 دولار شهريًا، شاملة المرافق. أنا أقوم حاليًا بعمل إنساني في الخارج ولا يمكنني الالتقاء شخصيًا. يتم إدارة الشقة بواسطة مساعدي العقاري الذي يمكنه السماح لك بالدخول بعد تأكيد الدفع. يرجى إرسال إيجار الشهر الأول (1,100 دولار) عبر التحويل الإلكتروني لتأكيد اهتمامك. سأرسل لك المفاتيح وعقد الإيجار عبر FedEx في غضون 48 ساعة. تصرف بسرعة حيث تلقيت العديد من الاستفسارات.» لا تدفع الإيجار أبدًا دون معاينة العقار شخصيًا وتوقيع عقد إيجار مكتوب. هذا احتيال نموذجي.
Common Examples
- مكالمات آلية أو مباشرة تدّعي أنك مدين بضرائب متأخرة وأن مذكرة توقيف صدرت بحقك
- تهديدات بالترحيل الفوري إذا لم تدفع 'الدين الضريبي' على الفور
- مطالبات بالدفع عبر بطاقات هدايا iTunes، أو بطاقات Google Play، أو Bitcoin، أو التحويل البنكي
- رسائل نصية تحتوي على روابط لصفحات تسجيل دخول CRA مزيفة تسرق بيانات اعتمادك ورقم SIN الخاص بك
- رسائل بريد إلكتروني تصيدية مزيفة لاسترداد أموال CRA تدّعي أن 'استرداد 1,247 دولارًا جاهز، حدّث تفاصيل حسابك المصرفي'
- كشوف T4 مزيفة أو رسائل مزايا تُرسل بالبريد إلى عنوانك لجعل الاحتيال يبدو أكثر شرعية
- منتحلو شخصية CRA يعرفون بالفعل اسمك وعنوانك، مما يجعل المكالمة تبدو حقيقية
Red Flags
- CRA لا تهدد أبدًا بالاعتقال أو الترحيل عبر الهاتف بسبب ضرائب غير مدفوعة
- CRA لا تطلب أبدًا الدفع ببطاقات الهدايا، أو العملات المشفرة، أو بطاقات Visa مسب��ة الدفع
- لغة عدوانية وتهديدية مصممة لإثارة الذعر ومنعك من التفكير بوضوح
- يمكن تزوير هوية المتصل لإظهار الرقم 1-800-959-8281 (رقم CRA الحقيقي)، لذا هوية المتصل لا تثبت شيئًا
- CRA لن تطلب معلومات شخصية عبر البريد الإلكتروني، أو الرسائل النصية، أو مكالمة هاتفية غير مؤكدة
- مراسلات CRA الحقيقية تصل بالبريد إلى عنوانك المسجل، وليس عبر مكالمة هاتفية عاجلة
- يُطلب منك عدم إخبار عائلتك أو محاميك أو محاسبك بالمكالمة
Example Scam Message
«هذا الضابط David Mitchell يتصل من قسم إنفاذ Canada Revenue Agency. سجلاتنا تظهر أنك ارتكبت احتيالًا ضريبيًا بمبلغ 4,200 دولار على مدى العامين الماضيين. هذا هو إشعارك الأخير قبل أن نصدر مذكرة توقيف عبر RCMP. لتسوية هذا الأمر ا��يوم وتجنب الاعتقال، يجب عليك شراء بطاقات هدايا Google Play بقيمة 4,200 دولار والاتصال بنا مرة أخرى بأرقام البطاقات. لديك ساعتان للامتثال. لا تتصل بمحامٍ لأن هذا تحقيق جنائي.» CRA لا تعمل بهذه الطريقة تحت أي ظرف من الظروف. أغلق الخط واتصل بالرقم 1-800-959-8281 من canada.ca للتحقق من حالة حسابك الفعلية.
Common Examples
- رسائل SMS تصيدية تدّعي أنها من TD، أو RBC، أو Scotiabank تطلب منك التحقق من حسابك
- مكال��ات تدّعي وجود نشاط مشبوه في حسابك، وتطلب رقم بطاقتك ورقم التعريف الشخصي (PIN) لتأكيد هويتك
- احتيال الأجداد: يتظاهر المتصلون بأنهم حفيدك في السجن ويحتاجون إلى أموال كفالة تُرسل فورًا
- عمليات احتيال رومانسية تؤدي في النهاية إلى طلب تحويل إلكتروني لتذكرة طائرة أو حالة طوارئ
- عمليات احتيال مزيفة من CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation)
Red Flags
- Your bank will never ask for your PIN, full card number, or password by phone, email, or text
- Unsolicited messages with urgent warnings like 'your account has been locked, verify now'
- Links in messages that do not exactly match the official bank website (e.g., 'td-securelogin.com' is fake)
- Requests to share one-time passwords or verification codes sent to your phone
- Someone you met online asks you to receive money and send it to a third party
- A 'bank fraud investigator' calls and asks you to move your money to a 'safe account' they control
Example Scam Message
"SECURITY ALERT from TD Bank: We have detected unusual access to your account from an unknown device. Your online banking has been temporarily suspended. To restore access, please verify your identity at: td-verify-account.com/secure" This is not TD Bank. The real TD Bank website is td.com. A bank will never suspend your account and ask you to verify through a link in a text message. Call the number on the back of your bank card to check your account status.
Common Examples
- A phone call using your child's cloned voice saying they are in jail and need bail money immediately
- A video call from someone who looks and sounds exactly like a government official, requesting document verification
- Perfectly written phishing emails generated by AI with no grammar errors and exact corporate branding
- Deepfake videos of celebrities or government officials promoting cryptocurrency investments
- AI-generated voice of a 'bank manager' calling to help you 'resolve fraud' on your account
- WhatsApp voice messages cloned from a friend's voice asking for an urgent e-Transfer
- Fake video proof-of-identity where the scammer uses a deepfake face during a video call
Red Flags
- Extreme urgency combined with a request for money, no matter how real the voice sounds
- The caller insists on secrecy and asks you not to contact the real person to verify
- Slight audio artifacts, unnatural blinking in video, or lip sync that is slightly off
- The person contacts you through an unusual channel, like a new WhatsApp number
- They cannot answer a specific personal question only the real person would know
- The story involves a sudden emergency that requires immediate untraceable payment
- Deepfake videos of public figures endorsing investments rarely appear on official channels
Example Scam Message
You receive a WhatsApp call. Your mother's voice says: "It's me. I had an accident at the mall and the other driver is demanding $3,000 in cash or they will press charges. I cannot reach your dad. Please send $3,000 to this number right now and I will explain everything when I get home. Please hurry." Before sending any money, hang up and call your mother back on her known phone number from your contacts. If someone truly cannot answer their own phone in an emergency, that is a sign the caller is not who they claim to be.
Common Examples
- Facebook Marketplace listings for phones, furniture, or electronics that require e-Transfer upfront and never arrive
- Instagram or TikTok ads showing screenshots of huge investment gains, leading to pig butchering crypto scams
- Fake government benefit ads on Facebook claiming unclaimed CERB or CCB payments
- Accounts impersonating WelcomeAide, MOSAIC, or other settlement agencies asking newcomers to pay for services
- WhatsApp groups promising passive income from a 'government-approved investment program'
- Facebook groups for newcomers where scammers pose as members and offer fake jobs or rentals
- Instagram DMs from accounts with stolen photos of real people, building fake relationships before asking for money
Red Flags
- Seller insists on e-Transfer before you can view or pick up the item
- Account has very few posts or followers but is promoting a high-value item or investment opportunity
- The ad shows government logos but the page is not an official government Facebook page (look for verified blue checkmarks)
- Investment opportunity promises 20 to 50 percent monthly returns with screenshots as proof
- Settlement agency account that charges fees for services that are always free at real agencies
- The person pressures you to move the conversation from the platform to WhatsApp or Telegram
Example Scam Message
A Facebook ad shows: "Canadian government unclaimed benefits for newcomers 2025. You may be eligible for up to $4,800 in settlement assistance. Claim your payment before December 31st. Click here." The link goes to a form that collects your SIN, banking details, and address. No such program exists. Government benefit programs are accessed at canada.ca, never through Facebook ads that require your banking information.
Common Examples
- SIM swapping: scammer convinces your carrier to transfer your number to a new SIM card they control
- Fake Rogers or Bell calls claiming you have won a free phone upgrade and need to verify your account
- Text messages saying your number will be suspended unless you call a number to verify your identity
- CRTC impersonation calls claiming you owe fines for illegal downloads and must pay immediately
- Prize scam texts saying you won a gift card and must call a number or click a link to claim it
- Robocalls claiming your SIN has been suspended due to criminal activity linked to your phone number
- Fake carrier customer service that asks for your account PIN and personal information
Red Flags
- Your phone suddenly loses service for no apparent reason (may indicate SIM swap is in progress)
- Unexpected texts from your carrier about account changes you did not make
- A caller claiming to be from your phone provider asks for your account PIN or SIN over the phone
- Text prize notifications that ask you to call a number or pay a fee to claim your prize
- CRTC or government agency threatening a fine over the phone related to your phone number
- Robocall says your SIN has been suspended, which is not something that can happen
Example Scam Message
You receive a text: "ROGERS: Your account is under review due to suspicious activity. To avoid service suspension, please verify your account immediately at rogers-account-verify.com or call 1-800-XXX-XXXX." Simultaneously, you notice your phone has no signal. A scammer has called Rogers, pretended to be you using information from a data breach, and convinced them to move your number to a new SIM card. Now they have access to your banking SMS verification codes. Call your carrier immediately using the number on their official website if your phone loses service unexpectedly.
Common Examples
- Fake offer letters from real universities, obtained by submitting fraudulent applications through unlicensed agents
- Diploma mills: schools that issue degrees and diplomas without real education or accreditation
- Fake scholarship websites that charge application fees of $50 to $200 for scholarships that do not exist
- Unauthorized IRCC study permit services that take money but submit incorrect or no applications
- Fake tuition refund scams targeting students who have withdrawn, claiming CRA owes them money back
- Agents who guarantee a study permit for a fee, which is impossible since IRCC makes all decisions
- Fake English proficiency test centers that sell fraudulent IELTS or TOEFL certificates
Red Flags
- Admission offer received without submitting a full application through the school's official portal
- School is not listed on the IRCC Designated Learning Institution (DLI) list at canada.ca
- Scholarship requires an application fee or your banking details to receive the award
- Study permit agent guarantees approval, which no one outside IRCC can promise
- School has no accreditation from a recognized provincial education authority
- English test certificate offered for a fee without taking the actual test
- Tuition refund offer requires you to pay a processing fee first to receive your refund
Example Scam Message
"Congratulations! Global Canadian University is pleased to offer you admission to the Bachelor of Business Administration program starting September 2025. As our international intake is limited, please pay the $3,000 enrollment deposit within 7 days to secure your spot. Upon deposit, we will begin processing your IRCC study permit application. We have a 98% study permit approval rate for our students." Always verify the school on the IRCC DLI list before paying any deposit. A real accredited university never pressures students with 7-day deadlines on acceptance offers.
Common Examples
- Fake OHIP or provincial health card offers claiming faster coverage in exchange for a fee
- Unauthorized supplement sellers targeting newcomer communities with miracle cure claims in their language
- Fake COVID-related health benefit programs promising payments to people who 'register' their vaccination status
- Scammers claiming they can extend or restore your health coverage that has lapsed for a fee
- Online pharmacies selling counterfeit medications at very low prices
- Alternative practitioners charging thousands for unproven treatments targeting people with serious illnesses
- Fake denture or vision clinics that charge seniors and newcomers upfront for treatments never delivered
Red Flags
- No government in Canada charges a fee for provincial health card registration. It is always free
- Any supplement claiming to cure, treat, or prevent a disease is making an illegal health claim in Canada
- Health benefit programs are accessed through official government websites, never through paid third parties
- Practitioners offering guaranteed cures for serious illnesses like cancer, diabetes, or chronic pain
- Online pharmacies without a Canadian pharmacy license or physical address
- Anyone claiming you need to pay extra to maintain or expedite your provincial health coverage
Example Scam Message
You receive a flyer in your mailbox, in your language: "NEW ARRIVALS: Get your Ontario health card processed in 2 weeks instead of 3 months. Our service fee is $350. We handle all paperwork. Call now for your appointment." Provincial health cards are applied for free at ServiceOntario or equivalent provincial offices. Processing times are set by the government and cannot be expedited through a third party. This is a scam.
Common Examples
- Fake CCB overpayment notices demanding immediate repayment by e-Transfer or gift card
- Scam calls claiming your CERB or EI payments were issued in error and must be repaid immediately
- Fake provincial benefit offers claiming you qualify for a one-time settlement grant of $2,500
- Texts about unclaimed government stimulus cheques requiring banking details to claim
- Fake agents offering to apply for all government benefits on your behalf for a $500 processing fee
- Emails claiming your GST or HST credit direct deposit failed and you need to update banking details
- Calls claiming your OAS, CPP, or GIS payments have been suspended due to an investigation
Red Flags
- CRA and Service Canada never contact you by text message requesting banking information
- Government benefit repayment requests always come by official mail, not urgent phone calls
- No legitimate government program charges a fee to apply for benefits on your behalf
- Real benefit overpayment notices come with a formal explanation and 30-day response period
- Any message claiming a one-time newcomer grant is available but requires a fee to claim
- Government agencies never accept repayment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or e-Transfer to a personal account
Example Scam Message
"SERVICE CANADA: Our records show you received an overpayment of $1,847 in CERB benefits in 2020. Failure to repay within 48 hours will result in a 15% penalty and legal action. To repay and avoid additional charges, e-Transfer $1,847 to: service.canada.repayment@outlook.com immediately." Real Service Canada overpayment notices arrive by registered mail with a 30-day window to respond or set up a repayment plan. The repayment is made through your CRA My Account or by mailing a cheque to the Receiver General of Canada, never by e-Transfer to a Gmail or Outlook address.
Common Examples
- Fake Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) that accept tuition but provide no accredited education
- Agents guaranteeing study permit approval for an extra fee beyond standard application costs
- Scholarship scams requiring an application fee or personal banking information
- Fake co-op or work placement programs that charge large upfront fees with no real placement
- Agents who submit fraudulent applications with forged documents without the student's knowledge
Red Flags
- School is not on the official IRCC DLI list at canada.ca
- Guaranteed visa or permit approval: no private individual or company can guarantee this
- Large upfront fees for placement or scholarship applications
- Poor online presence, no physical campus, or unverifiable provincial accreditation
- Agent asks you to sign forms you are not allowed to read first
- Offer letter contains grammar errors or is on template paper rather than official school letterhead
Example Scam Message
"Enroll at Canadian Global Institute of Technology. We offer guaranteed study permit approval and a direct pathway to PR through our PGW program. Pay the $4,500 enrollment fee now to secure your seat. Study permits processed in 3 weeks!" Always verify any school on the IRCC DLI list at canada.ca before paying any amount. Study permit processing times are set by IRCC and cannot be expedited by a private institution.
Common Examples
- Online relationships that escalate quickly with intense emotional language and professions of love within days
- Partner claims to need money for an emergency, medical bills, or a plane ticket to come visit you
- Requests to receive and forward packages or money transfers, making you an unwitting money mule
- Refusal to video call or consistent excuses: bad camera, poor internet, always working night shifts
- Partner introduces a profitable investment opportunity after establishing emotional trust
- Deepfake video calls that appear to show a real attractive person but are AI-generated in real time
Red Flags
- Relationship moves unusually fast with overwhelming compliments and intense declarations of love
- Person claims to be military, engineer, doctor, or oil rig worker always working overseas
- Every planned meeting is cancelled due to a sudden emergency or family crisis
- Requests for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers for any reason
- Cannot make a spontaneous live video call at a moment you choose
- Reverse image search of their photo returns results from other profiles or stock photo sites
Example Scam Message
After six weeks of daily conversation on a dating app, your new partner writes: "I know this is hard to ask, but my daughter is in the hospital and I have a hold on my overseas bank account. I will pay you back double as soon as I land. I just need $4,000 right now. I would do the same for you. We have something real here and I cannot lose you." This is a classic romance scam pattern. Never send money to someone you have not met in person multiple times, regardless of how deep the connection feels.
Common Examples
- A new contact on social media mentions an insider crypto investment opportunity with guaranteed returns
- Fake trading platforms showing large profits on your dashboard that you can see but not access
- Small test withdrawals that succeed to build trust before the pressure to invest much larger amounts
- Romance partners who, after weeks of building trust, want to share an investment opportunity with you
- Referrals to a platform that requires a 15% tax payment before you can withdraw your gains
- Fake customer service representatives who offer to help you withdraw but require fees each time
Red Flags
- Unsolicited investment tips through WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, or dating apps
- Guaranteed high returns with low risk: this does not exist in any legitimate investment
- Platform not registered with Canadian Securities Administrators at securities-administrators.ca
- Tax or fee required before withdrawal: legitimate platforms withhold taxes automatically
- Unable to withdraw funds for any reason after depositing
- The platform app was installed through a link, not the official Apple App Store or Google Play
Example Scam Message
A new friend on WhatsApp says: "I have been using this trading platform my uncle recommended and made $40,000 last month. Let me show you how to set it up. Just start with $500 to test it." Two weeks later, your dashboard shows $8,400. You are told to deposit $15,000 to activate a trading bonus. When you try to withdraw everything, you are told you must pay a 15% capital gains tax upfront ($3,500) before the funds can be released. You pay it, but then they say your account needs to be verified with another $2,000. This process continues until you run out of money or refuse to pay. The platform and all profits are completely fake.
Common Examples
- A call using your child's cloned voice saying they are in a car accident and need bail money
- Your parent's voice saying they are stuck in a foreign country and need emergency funds
- The grandparent scam updated with AI: a caller sounds exactly like your grandchild in trouble
- A voice message from a friend's cloned voice claiming they were mugged and need an e-Transfer
- A call using your sibling's voice claiming they need to borrow money for rent urgently
Red Flags
- Extreme urgency and emotional pressure combined with a request for untraceable payment
- The caller insists on secrecy and asks you not to contact anyone else including the real person
- Story involves police, lawyers, or hospitals demanding immediate cash payment
- Caller is reluctant to stay on the line or give you time to think or verify
- Voice sounds real but the person does not know recent personal details only the real person would know
- Payment method is e-Transfer to a new number, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
Example Scam Message
You receive a call. Your son's voice says: "Dad, I am so sorry. I was in an accident and I hit another car. The driver is really angry and says he will press charges unless I pay him $2,500 right now in cash. I am at a gas station on Boundary Road. Please do not tell mom. Can you Interac transfer it to his number? I will explain everything when I get home. Please hurry." Before sending anything, hang up and call your son directly on his phone number in your contacts. If he answers, the other call was a scam. If he cannot answer, call another family member to check. Establish a family emergency code word to use in exactly these situations.
Common Examples
- Texts claiming 'Your CRA tax refund of $847 is ready. Click to claim before it expires'
- Emails saying your CCB or GST credit could not be deposited and you need to update your banking information
- Fake Service Canada messages about unclaimed EI or CPP payments requiring banking verification
- Links to websites that look exactly like canada.ca but have slightly different URLs
- Climate Action Incentive payment scams claiming you have uncollected quarterly payments
Red Flags
- CRA and Service Canada send notifications through your secure online account, not by SMS or email with links
- The URL contains canada.ca within a longer address like 'cra-benefits.ca-refund-portal.net'
- Any request for banking information, SIN, or card numbers through a link in a message
- Urgent language: 'Claim within 48 hours or your refund expires'
- The message arrives as a text, which CRA does not use to notify you of refunds
- The email comes from a Gmail, Hotmail, or non-government domain
Example Scam Message
"CRA Alert: Your 2024 tax refund of $1,243.00 is ready for deposit. Your direct deposit information on file appears invalid. To receive your refund, update your banking information at: cra-refund-canada.com/update within 72 hours or your refund will be held for 12 months." The real CRA website is canada.ca. When CRA cannot deposit a refund, they mail a cheque to your address on file. They do not send you to an external website to update banking details.
Common Examples
- Movers who provide a very low online quote but charge three to five times more on moving day
- Companies that demand full payment upfront, load your belongings, and disappear
- Movers who load your items, drive away, and refuse to deliver until you pay inflated fees
- Fake reviews and professional-looking websites with no physical address or business registration number
- Moving companies with no CVOR (Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration) operating illegally
Red Flags
- Quote is significantly below all other companies: this is a warning sign, not a deal
- Company refuses to provide a binding written estimate before the move
- No physical business address, no BBB listing, no verifiable business registration
- Demands full cash or e-Transfer payment before the move begins
- Movers refuse to let you see the final invoice before they load your belongings
- No information about CVOR number or cargo insurance provided
Example Scam Message
"We quoted you $400 for your move based on the information provided. However, having assessed the actual volume of your belongings, the final cost is $2,800 due to additional labor and distance charges. Your belongings are secured in our truck and will be delivered to your new address upon receipt of the full payment. We accept cash or e-Transfer only." Get binding written quotes from at least three registered movers. Check every moving company on the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org) before booking. Verify they have a CVOR number for any move crossing provincial lines.