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Canadians Confident They Can Spot Scams, but Cybersecurity Habits Tell a Different Story
According to a new Equifax Canada survey, nearly two-thirds of Canadians have encountered fraudulent messages in the past year, while gaps in online precautions persist
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than eight in 10 Canadians surveyed (83 per cent) are confident they can distinguish legitimate communications from scams, yet a new Equifax Canada survey* for Cybersecurity Awareness Month reveals significant gaps in how consumers protect their personal information and online accounts.
Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of Canadians have encountered at least one type of fraudulent message or online content in the past 12 months. Despite widespread confidence in recognizing scams, only 22 per cent describe themselves as “very confident”, while 61 per cent are “somewhat confident”.
The findings also reveal that just 58 per cent use multi-factor authentication on many of their financial and social media accounts, while 50 per cent use unique passwords for important accounts. More than one in five (22 per cent) admit to reusing the same two or three passwords across multiple accounts. This can be problematic because, if a data breach occurs on one website, reusing passwords allows hackers to break into other accounts using new and powerful automated tools.
“As Canadians are more exposed to fraudulent communications in everyday interactions, recognizing scams has become increasingly challenging,” said Octavia Howell, Chief Information Security Officer, Equifax Canada. “While it’s encouraging that consumers feel confident identifying suspicious messages, awareness alone isn’t enough. Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and knowing how to respond when something goes wrong are important parts of protecting personal information.”
Bank Impersonation and Fake Account Alerts Among Most Common Scams
The survey identifies the types of fraudulent communications Canadians report encountering most frequently over the past year:
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37 per cent encountered fraudulent emails or texts impersonating Canadian banks or government agencies.
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36 per cent encountered fake notifications claiming someone had accessed or attempted to access their banking or social media accounts.
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26 per cent encountered fraudulent investment opportunities.
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26 per cent encountered fake social media messages or videos impersonating trusted brands or public figures.
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16 per cent encountered fraudulent job offers.
Scam exposure also varies across the country. Nearly three-quarters of British Columbians (75 per cent) report encountering at least one type of fraudulent message or content, compared with 53 per cent in Quebec.
