Four-in-five Canadians targeted by scams as fraud losses top $544M

Online fraudsters (file photo)

A wave of digital and phone-based fraud has targeted most Canadians over the last two years, according to new data from the Angus Reid Institute.

A report released Monday found that more than 80 per cent of Canadians say they have been the target of an online or phone scam since 2024.

For 30 per cent of the population, these attempts were successful, resulting in the theft of personal information or money.

The financial toll of these crimes is significant.

Canadians have lost over $544 million as of September 30, 2025; according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

In 2024, that number hit $645 million.

However, Angus Reid notes the true figure is likely much higher, as only five to 10 per cent of fraud cases are believed to be reported to authorities.

The invisible crime wave

The data suggests that while violent crime often dominates headlines, fraud has become one of the most widespread criminal experiences in the country.

“Some of the most common crimes facing Canadians don’t involve ever seeing another person’s face,” the report states.

While 13 per cent of Canadians were involved in a police-reported crime over the last two years, that figure nearly triples to 36 per cent when accounting for victims of fraud and identity theft.

Demographics of victimization

Canadians aged 60 and older are nearly twice as likely as those aged 18 to 29 to report falling victim to a scam.

Researchers attribute some of this disparity to the rise of sophisticated AI-generated fraud, which can convincingly model authentic communications from recognizable sources.

Report fraud

Authorities encourage Canadians to be wary of unsolicited texts or calls asking for personal data.

If you have been targeted you should:

• Report it: Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501.
• Notify your bank: If financial information was shared, alert your bank immediately to flag your accounts.
• Contact local police: If you have lost money. File a report with your local service to help investigators track regional trends.