Fake Interac E-Transfer Notifications: How to Spot Them

A fake Interac e-Transfer deposit notification can look like a message telling you that someone has sent you money. Its real purpose may be to get you to click a link and hand over banking details, or to persuade you to send money. Don’t rely on the message itself to confirm a payment: open your bank’s app or website independently and check your account activity. Interac is a legitimate Canadian e-transfer service; scammers may impersonate it, a bank, or someone you know.

How fake deposit notifications work

Interac e-Transfer is a way to send money between participating Canadian financial institutions. A message about a transfer may arrive by email or text, depending on how the sender initiates it and the recipient’s arrangements. Scammers copy the general look and wording of these notifications, hoping the recipient will act quickly without checking whether money actually arrived.

A common approach is to include a link that appears to lead to a bank or transfer page. The page may imitate a real sign-in screen and ask for online banking credentials or other personal details. If a person enters them, the information can be used to try to access their account. A message might instead ask the recipient to pay a fee, provide a verification code, or send money back. These requests should not be treated as proof that a transfer is real.

There are legitimate differences in how people receive transfers. Some recipients have automatic deposit set up; others may need to deposit a transfer through their financial institution’s online or mobile banking. The details can vary by bank and account. For that reason, a notification alone is not enough to establish that a payment has reached you. Check the account directly, using a route you choose yourself.

Scammers can also make the sender’s name or message appear familiar, or claim that a payment is urgent. A familiar name in a notification does not confirm who sent it. If you are expecting money, confirm with the sender using a contact method you already trust, not details supplied in an unexpected message.

Variations seen in Canada

Fake deposit alerts can show up as emails, text messages, or messages in online conversations. Some claim that a buyer has paid for an item you are selling. Others appear to relate to a refund, a service, a family payment, or money that the recipient was not expecting. The story changes, but the pressure to click, share information, or take a financial action is often similar.

In a marketplace version, a supposed buyer may send a payment notice before collecting an item. They may say the transfer is pending, ask you to pay a fee to receive it, or claim that you have been overpaid and should return part of the money. Do not refund an amount just because a notification or screenshot says it was sent. Check your own account and ask your bank if you are unsure.

Another version uses a fake message to suggest that you must sign in to receive or confirm a transfer. A legitimate transfer may require you to use your financial institution’s normal deposit process, but that does not mean you should follow a sign-in link in an unexpected message. Go to your bank’s app or website directly instead.

Some messages use a business or financial institution’s name and visual style. That does not mean the named organization sent the message or is involved in the fraud. If a notification seems to come from your bank, contact the bank through the number on your bank card or its official website, rather than a number or link in the message.

Red flags to watch for

• An unexpected payment alert: You were not expecting a transfer, or the supposed sender cannot confirm it through a trusted channel.
• A link asking for banking details: The page asks you to enter your bank username, password, card details, or other sensitive information after following a message link.
• A fee to receive money: Someone says you must pay, upgrade an account, or provide payment information before a transfer can be deposited.
• A request to send money back: A sender claims to have overpaid or asks you to forward part of a payment before you have verified the funds with your bank.
• Urgent or threatening language: The message pressures you to act immediately, warns that money will be lost, or says your account will be blocked unless you follow its instructions.
• Requests for a verification code: Someone asks you to read out or forward a one-time code. Don’t share security codes with another person.
• Unusual sender details: The sender address, phone number, name, or wording seems out of place. A convincing appearance is not proof that a message is genuine.
• A screenshot instead of a deposit: The sender offers an image as proof, but the money does not appear in your account activity.

How to protect yourself

Make it a habit to verify payments inside your own bank account. Open your banking app yourself, type the bank’s known web address into your browser, or use another trusted way to reach the bank. Check that the transaction is recorded in your account, not just in an email, text, or screenshot. If you cannot tell whether funds are available, ask your bank before handing over goods or sending money.

Do not sign in through links in unexpected transfer notifications. If a message says action is needed, close it and check with the financial institution using a contact method you already know is genuine. Never share your banking password, one-time passcode, or security answers with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. A person claiming to help you receive money does not need you to disclose those details.

If you are selling something, agree on a safe payment process before handing over the item. Confirm payment directly in your account, and be cautious if the buyer insists on a quick refund, a fee, or a different arrangement than the one you agreed to. Do not let urgency or a persuasive story replace account verification.

Keep your bank app and devices updated, use a strong, unique password for online banking, and turn on available account security features. These steps can help reduce risk, but they do not replace checking each payment independently. If a message is suspicious, don’t reply or forward it to others as a warning without making clear that it may be fake. You can report it to your email or mobile provider and delete it after saving the details you may need.

What to do if you clicked or shared information

1. Stop communicating through the message. Don’t click more links, send money, or provide additional information. If you are still on a suspicious page, close it.
2. Contact your bank promptly if banking details or money are involved. Use the number on your bank card or an official bank channel. Explain what happened and ask what steps to take to secure your account and review transactions.
3. Change affected passwords through the real service. If you entered your banking password or reused it elsewhere, change it using the bank’s official app or website, and update reused passwords on other accounts. Do not use a link sent by the person who contacted you.
4. Check your accounts for activity you do not recognize. Keep monitoring them and follow your bank’s instructions. If you shared a one-time code, tell the bank that too.
5. Save relevant details. Keep the message, sender information, dates, screenshots, and records of any transactions or conversations. Do not keep interacting with the sender to gather more information.
6. Tell other affected people if needed. If you shared someone else’s contact or payment information, let them know through a trusted channel so they can be alert.
7. Report the incident. Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police. If money or banking details were involved, contact your bank as well, even if you are not sure whether funds were taken.

How to report a fake e-Transfer notification

Report suspected fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. You can report it even if you did not lose money. Provide the information you have, such as the message, how you were contacted, and any steps you took.

Also contact your local police to report the incident, particularly if you lost money, your account was accessed, or you have concerns about your safety. If you provided banking information or a payment was involved, contact your bank right away using a trusted number or channel. Your bank can advise you about your account and any transactions. Reporting helps create a record and may help authorities and service providers identify patterns.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an e-Transfer was deposited?

Check your bank account through the bank’s official app or website, which you open independently. Look for the transaction in your account activity. An email, text, or screenshot by itself does not confirm that the money is in your account.

Is every email or text about an e-Transfer fake?

No. People can receive legitimate transfer notifications, but scammers can imitate them. Treat an unexpected message cautiously and verify any payment through your financial institution rather than using a link in the message.

What if I clicked the link but did not enter anything?

Close the page and do not enter information or download anything it offers. If you are concerned, contact your bank through a trusted channel and follow its advice. If you entered details or shared a code, tell the bank promptly.

Should I send back money if someone says they overpaid?

Do not send a refund based only on a message or screenshot. Check your account and contact your bank if a payment appears or you are uncertain. Confirm the situation with the supposed sender using contact information you already trust.

Reviewed by our editorial team on October 7, 2026.

Last updated October 8, 2026