Before we publish a scam alert, it goes through the same checks.
- Find the source. Each alert starts from an official warning (such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, the Canada Revenue Agency, a securities regulator, or a police service), a bank’s fraud notice, a credible news report, or a reader submission.
- Confirm it independently. Reader reports and news items are checked against at least one official or reputable source, or against evidence we can examine directly, such as the original message, email headers, or website.
- Check the legitimate side. When a scam impersonates an organization, we confirm how that organization actually contacts people, so readers can tell the difference.
- Write practical guidance. Every alert explains the warning signs, what to do if you’ve been targeted, and where to report it in Canada.
- Review before publishing. A member of the Scam Alert Team reviews every article for accuracy, fairness, and clarity.
- Keep it current. We revisit alerts when agencies issue updates and mark the last-updated date.
Reader submissions
We welcome reports through our Report a Scam page. We remove personal details before publishing any example and never publish a submission we can’t reasonably verify. Submitting a report to us is not the same as reporting it to authorities; we always recommend reporting to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police as well.