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Scam Statistics in the Canada
Here are some eye‑opening numbers that show just how serious online fraud has become in Canada:
- Billions of dollars are lost every year.
- Scams range from fake investment schemes to phishing emails and phone calls.
- Victims aren't just losing money they're losing trust, security, and peace of mind.
Online scams are becoming a growing concern across Canada. According to the Global State of Scam report, cases have skyrocketed from about 36,000 in 2019 to more than 104,000 in 2022. Alongside this surge, Canadians lost an alarming $295 million to online fraud in 2022 alone.
But there's a silver lining. Thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), over CA$3.35 million was successfully recovered last year proof that fighting back against scammers does make a difference.
| Country | Population | Internet Penetration | # of Scams | Scams / 1,000 | Money Lost | Money Lost / Capita | Money Lost / Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 38.00M | 96.5% | 56.0K | 1.47 | CA$66.0M | CA$1.74 | CA$1.18K |
| 2021 | 38.20M | 97.9% | 104.3K | 2.73 | CA$295.5M | CA$7.74 | CA$2.83K |
| 2022 | 38.69M | 98.2% | 120.0K | 3.10 | CA$331.0M | CA$8.55 | CA$2.76K |
| 2023 | 40.77M | 98.5% | 135.0K | 3.31 | CA$371.0M | CA$9.10 | CA$2.75K |
| 2024 | 40.99M | 98.8% | 150.0K | 3.66 | CA$416.0M | CA$10.15 | CA$2.77K |
| 2025 | 41.65M | 99.0% | 165.0K | 3.96 | CA$466.0M | CA$11.19 | CA$2.82K |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Here's a structured draft of Canada, highlighting common scams and how victims can report them or seek help.
Common Scams
- Phishing emails and texts (banks, CRA tax scams)
- Romance scams and investment fraud
- Fake job offers and online shopping scams
- Identity theft and impersonation of government agencies
Reporting Mechanisms
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) – main national body for reporting scams and fraud antifraudcentre.ca
- Competition Bureau Canada – accepts fraud complaints and educates consumers competition-bureau.canada.ca
- Local police – for immediate threats or financial loss
