General News

Fraud Prevention Month brings hidden crime into the spotlight

March 19, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has released statistics about fraud across the country.

Fraud is one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, but it often goes unnoticed and unreported. This is because it can be hidden behind convincing technology, in everyday online interactions, or when crossing international borders.

Data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre shows that Canadians lost over $704 million to fraud in 2025, with reported losses since 2022 now surpassing $2.4 billion.

These losses represent only a fraction of this crime, as only 5 to 10 per cent of frauds are reported.

This is Fraud Prevention Month, and the Competition Bureau, the CAFC, and the RCMP are teaming up to equip Canadians with the tools to recognize and report fraud.

Most Canadians have encountered fraud in some form, whether as a victim themselves, as part of a business, or as a witness to another’s experience,” said Marie-Claude Dandenault, Deputy Commissioner, Specialized Policing Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “Fraud Prevention Month is about bringing these stories together, not only to understand the full scope of the problem, but also to empower Canadians to fight back. Follow along this month to learn more about the latest fraud trends, how to protect yourself and where you can report.”

In 2025, the top three most reported types of fraud were identity fraud, investment fraud, and service fraud.

These types of scams are designed to get you to pay or to give away sensitive information, such as your social insurance number, passwords, or banking details.

The top three frauds reported with the highest financial impacts were investment fraud, romance fraud, and job fraud.

If you or someone you know has experienced fraud, contact your local police and report online at the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website or toll-free at 1-888-495-8501.

You should still report the incident even if there was no financial loss.

Readers Comments (0)