RBC poll finds Canadians are confident they can spot scams, but many still fall victim

A new survey shows many Canadians are overconfident in their ability to spot a scam, and that could cost them this holiday season. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau report

A new poll by Royal Bank of Canada suggests a majority of Canadians think they can spot a scam, but many have still fallen victim.

According to the poll, 86 per cent of Canadians believe they can spot a scam, but 25 per cent have still fallen victim. Many expect this holiday season to be even worse, especially with the rise of AI-driven scams.

“I’m a little worried what’s coming with this AI. I’m getting really worried about that,” said Ottawa senior David Pittman.

“But I’ll be really careful,” he said.

“Like, I won’t deal with anybody. If I get a call or a problem with my banking, I’ll go and call. I won’t trust anything anymore I don’t think.”

• FULL COVERAGE: CTV News Ottawa’s Spot the Scam Week

RBC says one challenge is that many victims don’t talk about their experiences.

“Ten per cent of people have been a victim of a fraud or a scam, and they never told anybody, not even their friends or family,” said Geoffrey Morton, RBC’s senior director of fraud strategy. “So, there’s that shame element to it, which is unfortunate because as an industry, we rely on that reporting to know what is the latest scam that we’re dealing with.”

According to the poll, 32 per cent of respondents said they would only report a scam if they lost money.

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Some take a straightforward approach to protecting themselves.

“I don’t click on those messages. I delete those,” said Ottawa student Seth Poirier. “And those emails, I just delete right away too. If I don’t think it’s real.”

Ottawa resident Michelle Vaillancourt says the constant flood of scam attempts is wearing her down.

“It’s invasive and it’s annoying,” she said. “I get about three per day now. I get three on emails and on texts and phone calls. I get one every day on my phone calls,” she said.

Experts warn that shoppers need to stay alert during the holidays. And for many seniors who may be less familiar with technology, the risk is even greater.

“They pick on seniors who are prone to all this kind of stuff and don’t pay a lot of attention to it. I just think it’s terrible,” said Ottawa senior Carole Pittman.

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One senior is offering simple advice as the season ramps up.

“If you initiate something, then it’s probably okay,” said Dwight Hill. “If you’ve got something that is asking you to do something, it’s probably not. It’s probably a scam.”

According to RBC, these are common scams consumers should watch for this season:

• Phishing emails and texts: Be wary of messages claiming to be from trusted companies, saying your account is hacked, offering refunds, or promising too good to be true offers. These scams aim to have you click on a link or attachment that installs malware on your device or leads you to a website designed to steal your login details or sensitive information.
• Missed delivery messages: Scammers pose as reputable delivery companies, sending fake notifications via text or email about delayed packages. They prompt you to enter your personal and credit card information to cover fees to “release” and deliver your package.
• Fake bank alerts: Scammers send a text claiming to be from your bank, warning of suspicious activity. They create urgency, asking you to click links to secure your account. These links lead to fake websites designed to steal your bank login details.