A third of Canadians have received fraudulent job or tax-related texts in the past three months, according to a new survey, highlighting the growing concern over the threat of online or technology-related scams in recent years.
A quarter also reported receiving scam emails, credit reporting agency Equifax Canada said in a Monday news release. Additionally, 13 per cent said they had clicked a fraudulent link and six per cent said they have had their identity stolen.
The issue of fraud and scam threats has been on more and more Canadians’ minds over the past decade, according to Equifax. About half of Canadians felt vulnerable to identity theft in 2015, but that number jumped to around 80 per cent by 2023, the organization said.
“We can’t treat scams as background noise anymore,” Julie Kuzmic, Equifax’s director of consumer advocacy, said in the news release. “Canadians are telling us these threats feel constant and personal, and too many are left wondering what to do when they’re targeted.”
Canadians are feeling a “near-universal sense of risk” around fraud and scams, the agency added.
“Our research shows that the broader community’s biggest concern is protecting their families, especially children, from being taken advantage of online,” Kuzmic said. “That’s a fear we need to address head-on with the right tools and solutions to protect ourselves and our families.”
The survey indicated that 82 per cent of respondents worry about children facing online fraud and scams, while three-quarters worry information on their personal computer will be hacked. Around 70 per cent of respondents reported being worried they will be tricked into giving away personal information by fraudsters using technology, and around 60 per cent worry they will be impersonated on social media.
“Fraud today is deeply personal,” Kuzmic said. “It’s arriving by text, email, or social media in ways that feel familiar and authentic.”
What you can do to protect yourself
Education and being cautious are the best ways to be protected against scams, Equifax said.
Users should independently verify all unsolicited requests, Equifax said, adding that government agencies and banks will never ask users to send personal information via email or text, and users should go directly to a business’s official website if they suspect an issue with their account.
Legitimate organizations give time for verification, so users shouldn’t feel pressured by messages requiring action, Equifax said.
Using strong and secure passwords, logins and Wi-Fi is also important, the organization said, as well as staying informed about current scams.
To address the perceived rise in fraud and scams, around a third of Canadians surveyed said they need to take more steps to protect themselves online. Respondents said secure VPN and anti-virus software, password managers and parental controls were the most important tools for online protection, in addition to credit, social media and dark web monitoring.
The Equifax survey was conducted online between Sept. 19 and Sept. 22 and polled a “nationally representative sample of 1,521 Canadians,” the company said. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
If you have been a victim of a scam and would like to share your story with the Star, email us at [email protected].
