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Protect yourself from fraud

Practise on real scam patterns, learn the four tricks almost every scam uses, lock down your accounts and know exactly what to do if it happens.

Free, no sign-upYour numbers stay in your browser
Just the scam simulator → Already happened? What to do now
What’s in this journey · 7 steps, about 20 min
  1. 1Why anyone can be fooledAnnotated explainer
  2. 2Spot the scamSimulator · 8 messages
  3. 3Take a scam apartTap to reveal
  4. 4Lock down your accountsProtection checklist
  5. 5If it happens to youWhat to do now
  6. 6Check what stuckQuick check
  7. 7Your plan and where to reportChecklist and directory
You’ll leave with
  • The four tricks behind almost every scam, practised on real patterns
  • Your accounts locked down, with eight quick checks
  • Who to call if it happens, saved in your plan
Annotated explainer · 1 min

Why anyone can be fooled

First, a gut check. You’ll answer the same question at the end.

How confident are you that you’d spot a scam before losing money?
9:41Text message
+1 587-555-0142
CRA1: Your benefit payment of $386.25 is on hold. Verify within 24 hours or it will be cancelled2: canada-benefits-verify.ca3
To release your payment, pay the $49.99 processing fee with gift cards4. Reply DONE when sent.
  1. 1Borrowed authorityScammers use names you trust: the CRA, your bank, Canada Post, the police.
  2. 2UrgencyA deadline pushes you to act before you think. Real agencies give you time.
  3. 3A look-alike linkReal CRA addresses start with canada.ca or end in cra-arc.gc.ca. This one doesn’t.
  4. 4Payment you can’t take backGift cards and crypto can’t be reversed. No government agency accepts them.
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Read the transcript
    Where the money went in 2025Reported losses by scam type
    Investment scams took half of all reported losses. The most reported type was identity fraud, with 8,403 reports. Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre