Scammers using current events in fraud attempts: Interac survey

he Interac logo is shown in Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Joe O'Connal

A report suggests fraudsters are leveraging breaking news and current events as they try to scam Canadians.

A survey commissioned by Interac shows more than half of Canadians polled said they believed scammers are actively exploiting the ongoing trade uncertainties between Canada and the United States.

The report found 58 per cent of respondents reported experiencing a tariff-related scam over the past six months, such as receiving false messages about withheld or delayed packages, customs or import fees or customs impersonation.

Conducted Feb. 17 to 20, the online poll surveyed 1,500 Canadians. Online polls cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

Interac says the long-standing cues that once helped Canadians identify scams are becoming less reliable as fraudsters adapt to real-time news and leverage artificial intelligence tools.

It says many Canadians are adapting to fraud. Nearly half of the respondents said they are more careful about deals and avoid unfamiliar retailers, while nearly a quarter said they have reduced cross-border purchases.

Interac’s head of product, fraud, Mark Hines says the research highlights the emotional toll of navigating fraud attempts that increasingly draw on current events.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2026.