º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½

Det. Const. Lisa Cruz of OPP’s serious fraud office said people should stay informed and keep up to date with fraud trends in order to know the red flags to watch for.

“Definitely awareness is key,” she said in an interview, adding she encourages people to report fraud to local police so they can investigate and make communities aware of fraud trends, thereby preventing others from falling victim.

“A lot of people feel really embarrassed about being a victim of fraud, so it can be very hard for them to talk about it … but it’s very important to share your experiences.”

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, which collects and provides information on fraud and identity theft and works with law enforcement agencies like the OPP, received fraud reports totalling $642 million in victim losses in 2024, according to a recent OPP news release.

OPP Det. Supt. Mike Bickerton said fraud is constantly evolving, adding “our collective response” must evolve with it.

“By working with partners in law enforcement, industry and the community, we are strengthening fraud prevention, supporting victims and holding those responsible accountable,” he said in a statement.

“Fraud Prevention Month is an opportunity for everyone to learn how to recognize the signs of fraud and take action to protect themselves and others.”

Here were the five most common frauds impacting Canadians in 2024, according to CAFC:

1.Ìý

($310 million in reported losses.)

“You’re going to see false promises of high returns (and) claims of little to no risk,” Cruz said. “And they could claim exclusive opportunities to you.”

The key, said Cruz, is to slow down. “Never let anyone rush you into making any decision on the spot,” she said. “If somebody is asking you to sign any documents, make sure you fully understand them. Get someone you know and trust to review the documents with you.”

2.Ìý

($67.2 million in reported losses.)

These scams, the CAFC said, involve scammers pretending to be from legitimate sources to convince businesses or individuals to send them money.

“We want to remind everyone not to click on links or any attachments in those types of emails or text messages because you just don’t know where it’s actually going to,” Cruz said.

“If it’s a scam email, unfortunately, it’s going to go to fake websites that these criminals have created.”

Cruz recommends always verifying the identity of the individual who’s contacting you, especially if you’re being asked for personal information or money.

3.Ìý

($58.4 million in reported losses.)

This fraud involves a scammer convincing you to enter an online relationship so the scammer can gain your trust and affection, said the CAFC, adding the scammer may eventually ask for money for travel, a medical emergency or family assistance.

4.Ìý

($47.1 million in reported losses.)

The CAFC said it’s seeing an increase in crypto job frauds in which fraudsters use the names of real companies in Canada to offer victims freelance job opportunities to “boost” products, apps or videos using software created by the fraudsters.

After victims install the software and create an account, they receive “orders” or “tasks” they have to complete, according to CAFC.

“Victims deposit their funds into crypto accounts or wallets. Similar to crypto investment scams, victims will see funds in their crypto account, but will not have the ability to withdraw the funds they have deposited and earned,” explained the CAFC.

5.Ìý

($21 million in reported losses)

The CAFC said it’s receiving reports of extortion letters being sent by email claiming that you’ve visited explicit websites and threatening to send a copy of a video to your contact list unless you pay them using cryptocurrency.

In September, that sees victims duped into sending digital currency to suspects claiming to have compromising images or information about them.

Visit for more fraud prevention information.