Interac payment requests can be legitimate, but approving one means you are agreeing to send money. Before you accept, check who is asking, why they say they need payment and whether the details match what you expect. If anything is unfamiliar or urgent, pause and verify it another way.
How Interac payment requests work
An Interac e-Transfer payment request is a request for you to send money. It is different from a notification that someone has sent you money: a request asks you to pay, so approving it can move funds out of your account. The exact steps and wording can vary between financial institutions.
A request might come from someone you know or from a business you have agreed to pay. It may include a name or message to explain the reason. Those details can help you recognize a request, but they do not prove that the sender is who they claim to be or that the reason is genuine.
Fraudsters may imitate a person or business you know, or send a request you were not expecting and hope you will approve it without checking. A request can also appear convincing if someone has gained access to another person’s account. The Interac service is not the same as a person misusing it or pretending to represent someone else.
For general information about the service, visit Interac’s official website. If you are unsure how a request works in your own account, contact your bank or credit union using contact details you already trust.
Common e-transfer request variations in Canada
An unexpected request could claim to be for a purchase, a deposit, a shared expense or a service. It might appear to come from a friend, relative, landlord, seller or business. Treat these as possible scenarios, not proof that any particular request is fraudulent.
Sometimes the request itself is the whole message. In other cases, a text, email or phone call may tell you to expect one and urge you to approve it quickly. Someone may also contact you after sending a request and offer an explanation that you did not independently confirm.
A name you recognize is not enough on its own. A familiar person’s account could be used by someone else, or a display name could be chosen to look familiar. When a request involves a change in payment plans or an unusual reason for asking, speak directly with the person or business using a contact method you already have.
Red flags in a suspicious Interac request
One warning sign does not prove that a request is fraudulent, but several should prompt you to stop and check. Take particular care when you did not expect to pay or cannot confirm the request’s purpose.
- You were not expecting a request and cannot connect it to something you agreed to buy or pay for.
- The sender pressures you to approve immediately, threatens consequences or says there is no time to verify.
- The message gives a reason that does not match your recent conversations or arrangement with the sender.
- The request appears to come from someone you know, but the payment details or explanation are unusual.
- You are told to click a link and enter banking details, a password or a one-time security code to deal with the request.
- Someone asks you to approve a request as a way to receive money, claim a refund or fix an account problem. A request asking you to pay is not the same as money being sent to you.
- You are asked to send payment to a different person or address than the one you previously confirmed.
- The sender discourages you from calling the person, business or your financial institution to check.
How to check an e-transfer money request safely
Start by asking whether you expected to pay this person or business. Compare the amount and reason with what you agreed to. If you do not recognize the request, do not approve it just to see what happens.
Verify the request outside the message that brought it to you. Contact the person using a phone number or other details you already have, rather than relying on contact information supplied in the unexpected request. For a business, use a contact method you have independently confirmed.
Open your banking app or website yourself, using the method you normally use. Do not follow a link in an unexpected text or email to sign in. If you are uncertain whether a request is genuine, ask your bank or credit union through its official app, website or a number on your bank card or statement.
Never share your banking password or one-time security codes with someone who contacts you. A person who says they need a code to cancel a request, verify your identity or release money should not be given it. If a request is clearly unfamiliar, leave it unapproved and ask your financial institution what to do next.
These checks are useful even when the request appears to come from someone you trust. A quick call or message through a separate, familiar channel can confirm whether they sent it and what it is for. If they did not, tell them their account or contact details may be at risk.
What to do if you approved a request or shared details
If you have already paid or entered banking information, act promptly. A fast response gives your financial institution a chance to advise you about the options available for your account and situation. Do not continue a conversation with a person who is pressuring you to send more money.
- Contact your bank or credit union right away. Use a trusted phone number or the official app. Explain whether you approved a payment, shared login information or gave someone a security code. Ask what steps they recommend to protect your account and whether anything can be done about the transfer.
- Secure your banking access. Follow your financial institution’s instructions. If you shared a password, change it using the official service and update any other accounts where you reused it. Do not use a link sent by the person who contacted you.
- Stop further contact and payments. Do not approve another request or send extra money to recover a payment, unlock an account or prove you are cooperating. Verify any new claim independently.
- Keep the details. Save the request, messages, sender information and transaction records. Do not alter them; your bank or police may ask what happened.
- Tell anyone whose identity or account may have been used. Contact them through a separate method you trust so they can check their account and warn others if appropriate.
- Report the incident. Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police. If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
How to report a payment request scam in Canada
Report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. You can report even if you did not lose money; the details may help identify patterns and warn others.
Contact your local police service to report what happened, especially if money was sent or your identity or account was used. If money or banking information is involved, also contact your bank or credit union promptly. Keep any report or case details you receive with your records.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Interac payment request fraudulent?
No. People and businesses may use payment requests for legitimate reasons. Check that you expected the request and independently confirm the sender and purpose before approving it.
Can I trust a request because the sender’s name looks familiar?
No name or message alone confirms who sent a request. If anything feels unusual, contact the person through a number or channel you already know and ask whether they sent it.
What if I received a request but did not approve it?
Do not approve it if you cannot verify it. Avoid links in unexpected messages, and contact your bank through a trusted channel if you are concerned about your account or unsure how to handle the request.
What should I do if I sent money by mistake?
Contact your bank or credit union as soon as possible and explain what happened. Also report the incident to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Do not pay anyone who promises to recover the money in exchange for another payment.
Reviewed by our editorial team on .
The Scam Alert Team tracks fraud targeting Canadians and turns official warnings into clear, practical advice. Our team has a background in IT and cybersecurity, and every article is fact-checked against official sources before publication. How we verify alerts