Uncovering fraud: The disguises fraudsters wear
March is Fraud Prevention Month #FPM2025, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) will focus on uncovering fraud — revealing the tactics criminals use to create convincing identities, impact of victims and what we are doing to fight fraud. Fraudsters are experts at disguising themselves and creating false identities to manipulate, deceive, and steal from their victims. By exposing these deceptive practices, we aim to empower Canadians to spot fraud before it happens.
This week, we’ll explore the common disguises fraudsters wear, and the importance of staying vigilant to protect yourself from impersonation fraud. Fraudsters often hide behind trusted faces and official sounding names to gain your trust. They may appear as someone you know, someone you expect to hear from, or even law enforcement only to steal your money or personal information. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common masks fraudsters wear:
- Law enforcement
- Fraudsters may impersonate police officers, claiming you or a loved one have committed a crime. They may demand immediate payment or threaten legal action if you don’t comply.
- Financial institutions
- Fraudsters may pose as representatives from your bank or credit card company, telling you there's an issue with your account or asking you to confirm sensitive information. Banks will never ask for personal information via email, text message or over the phone.
- Government agencies
- Fraudsters frequently impersonate government organizations, such as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), telling you are eligible for a refund or benefit. Remember, government agencies won’t ask for personal information or payments through email or text. Always confirm the communication through official channels by looking up official contact information.
- The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) – Recovery fraud
- Fraudsters are pretending to be from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, other law enforcement agencies or government services, claiming they can help you recover money lost in previous scams — for a fee. In reality, these are "recovery frauds," designed to exploit your desperation. Fraudsters will gather the details from the previous fraud to convince you they are legitimate. In reality, it is more than likely the same group of fraudsters under another fake identity.
Warning signs and how to protect yourself
- Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from law enforcement. Hang up and make the outgoing phone call
- If you receive a suspicious message, contact your financial institution directly using trusted contact information
- Never share your multi-factor authentication code (MFA) with anyone
- Don’t be fooled! Fraudsters will often provide the first 4 to 6 numbers of your debit or credit card which is also known as the Bank Identifier Number (BIN). Most cards with specific financial institutions begin with the same numbers as an attempt to convince you that they are legitimate
- The government won’t send you a refund via email or text message. If you are not sure, look up the agencies’ official contact information and be sure to initiate the communication via official channels (phone number) or login directly to your account to view official correspondence or changes
- If you are contacted by someone claiming they have recovered or can help you recover your stolen funds, be cautious, and remember that the CAFC, police and government agencies will never contact you and ask for a fee
- If you have a been a victim of fraud in the past, there is a very good chance you will targeted again
Anyone who suspects they have been the target of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the CAFC’s online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.
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