TORONTO, Feb. 28, 2022 /CNW/ – Canadians are feeling the impact of the increase of fraud attempts during the pandemic. According to RBC’s 2022 Fraud Prevention Month Poll, 48% of respondents say they have been increasingly targeted by fraudsters since the start of the pandemic, compared to 22% in 2021.
The research also found that 54% agree it is harder than ever to tell when an email, text or online ad is a scam, while 47% say they have been increasingly targeted by fraudsters posing as trusted brands. One-third of respondents (33%) also say they know family members or close friends who have been victims of online fraud in the past year.
“It’s important to recognize that anyone can fall victim to fraud. It’s just as important to talk about it if it happens to you,” says Kevin Purkiss, Vice-President, Fraud Management, RBC. “Our research shows that 18% of respondents said if they were a victim of fraud they would be too embarrassed to tell anyone, however if you do experience it, I encourage you to have conversations with your family and friends so that we can all become more informed and learn about potential threats.”
And Canadians aren’t just feeling the increase in fraud attempts; the amount Canadians are losing to fraud is also on the rise. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, in 2021, there was $379 million in reported losses from fraud compared to $160 million 2020. When it comes to financial losses, investment scams are at the top of the list.
“We’re…
