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Did you believe the above caption? Probably not. You’re smart enough to recognise a scam when you see one, quite like our brother below.

Muktader Alam (name changed for privacy), a Canadian of Bangladeshi descent and a family man with one child, had been out of regular work since 2024. Therefore, his excitement soared when he received an unexpected text on his smartphone offering him a job in his field, conveniently located within his general travel area. It felt like a miracle.

The sender was a manufacturing facility based in Vaughan, which he recognised. The company links provided in the text appeared legitimate. However, being cautious, he decided to Google the company’s contact numbers and called their HR manager to inquire about the job opening. Unfortunately, the response was disappointing: they were not hiring and did not send out text messages to potential candidates. This was a scam. Muktader was fortunate, but countless other Canadians have not been.

A recent survey by a Canadian credit-monitoring company found that one in three Canadians had received fake job offers or scam texts from the CRA in the last three months. Seventy-five per cent of Canadians expressed moderate to high concern about being hacked; 13% admitted to clicking on a fraudulent link; and 6% reported having their identity stolen.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAC), Canadians lost a staggering $638 million in 2024 by responding to fake texts, also known as smishing (SMS phishing), compared to $578 million lost in 2023.

Here’s an interesting twist: in 2024, the number of reported incidents actually declined, from 42,316 in 2023 to 34,621 in 2024. So, why is there an increase in total losses?

CAC suggests two reasons for this anomaly. First, many incidents go unreported due to embarrassment or the belief that nothing can be done about the loss. It is estimated that only about 5-10% of those scammed in Canada eventually report the fraud. Second, scammers are targeting a smaller, more vulnerable group of individuals who have access to larger amounts of money. Two prominent scams to note are the “grandparent scam,” where a ‘grandchild’ calls a grandparent asking for urgent cash to escape trouble, and the “romance scam,” where a love interest requests an immediate loan to deal with an emergency. Both scams exploit strong emotional reactions—whether it’s love for a grandchild or the desire for romantic intimacy.

How do scammers identify these vulnerabilities? Through our online activities. The internet, which many believe is a secure space, is actually quite exposed. Our browsing habits, social media profiles, and emails can all be monitored. A con artist can become as familiar with us as our own families.

How to Guard Against Scams

Remember, scammers aim to provoke an urgent emotional response to a threat or an enticing offer. Please don’t give them what they want.

Follow the 3 Cs:

– Calm Yourself: Don’t react immediately or succumb to fear. Take a moment to relax; this will help you better assess the situation. Remember, legitimate banks and organisations, such as the CRA, do not send unsolicited texts. Look for spelling errors or shortened links used for payment.

– Check the Content: Consider whether the message makes sense. For instance, why would you be asked to pay 407 ETR when you don’t even use the highway? Even if you do, why would you pay through your phone instead of your usual payment method?

– Confirm the Legitimacy: Talk to people you trust. Share the message with family and friends for their input and feedback.

Finally, remember that you are not alone. You have access to resources like http://www.standagainstscams.ca, part of a national awareness campaign launched by the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition, which aims to educate Canadians on how to protect themselves and recognise fraud.