New research from Interac Corp. suggests that fraud is increasingly evolving alongside current events, with scammers leveraging artificial intelligence and economic uncertainty to target Canadians. According to a national survey commissioned by Interac, nearly six in 10 Canadians say they have encountered tariff-related scam attempts in the past six months, highlighting how fraud is beginning to mirror real-world headlines.
The findings were released during Fraud Prevention Month and reflect growing concern among consumers about the sophistication and frequency of digital fraud. The survey indicates that scams referencing tariffs, package delays, customs fees, and impersonation calls have become common, particularly as economic discussions about cross-border trade and inflation continue to dominate public conversation.
Scams increasingly tied to current events
Interac’s research shows that Canadians are noticing a shift in how fraud attempts are being structured. Nearly eight in 10 respondents, or 79 percent, believe artificial intelligence is enabling fraudsters to create highly convincing scams more quickly than in the past. By referencing breaking news and current events, these scams can appear legitimate and timely, making them more difficult to detect.
In the past six months alone, 58 percent of Canadians say they have encountered a tariff-related scam attempt. These messages often involve claims that a package is being held or delayed due to customs issues, requests for import fees, or calls from individuals impersonating customs officials. At the same time, more than half of Canadians believe scammers are exploiting uncertainty around trade rules between Canada and the United States.
The survey also found that economic pressures are becoming another common theme in fraud attempts. About 24 percent of Canadians report seeing an increase in scams referencing rising cost-of-living pressures, including overdue bill notices, threats of utility shutoffs, or offers of government financial assistance.
Together, these trends suggest that scams are increasingly aligned with the economic and political issues Canadians encounter in daily life.
“Our latest Interac survey reflects what we’re seeing on the front lines, fraudsters are moving faster and tracking the news cycle to make phishing, impersonation and investment scams seem legitimate,” said Mark Hines, Head of Product, Fraud, at Interac. “As those scams become harder to spot, many of the warning signs Canadians once relied on are less clear, eroding trust in everyday digital interactions.”
Traditional warning signs becoming less reliable
The survey suggests that as AI-driven fraud scams in Canada become more sophisticated, many traditional indicators of fraud are losing their effectiveness. Two-thirds of Canadians, or 66 percent, say that common warning signs such as spelling mistakes or poor formatting are no longer dependable ways to identify scams.
As a result, skepticism toward digital communication is growing. More than half of Canadians, or 53 percent, say they have questioned legitimate messages from trusted organizations, including financial institutions and telecommunications providers, because fraudulent messages have become so convincing.
This erosion of trust reflects a broader shift in how Canadians interpret online communications. Consumers are increasingly cautious, even when interacting with well-known companies or institutions.
Consumer behaviour shifting in response to fraud concerns
The rise of sophisticated scams appears to be influencing everyday consumer behaviour. Nearly half of Canadians say they are now more cautious when evaluating deals online, while 47 percent report avoiding unfamiliar retailers due to fraud concerns.
Cross-border purchasing behaviour is also changing. About 23 percent of Canadians say they have reduced purchases from international retailers because of concerns about scams. At the same time, one in three Canadians now prioritize Canadian websites over international ones when shopping online.
These behavioural shifts suggest that AI-driven fraud scams in Canada are not only affecting financial security but also influencing where and how Canadians shop.
Canadians unsure about their level of protection
Despite increasing vigilance, many Canadians remain uncertain about their ability to protect themselves from fraud. Only 31 percent of respondents say their current personal fraud prevention practices are sufficient to keep them safe.
If they were to fall victim to fraud, nearly two-thirds of Canadians say they would feel regret for not doing more to protect themselves.
“Our research highlights the emotional toll of navigating a fraud landscape that increasingly mirrors real life. While fraud increasingly intersects with everyday decisions, addressing this shift requires coordinated action across the ecosystem. Interac is focused on protecting Canadians’ financial safety by working with financial institution partners to strengthen fraud prevention measures, drawing on our unique, system-wide view of fraud across account-based payments,” added Hines.
Survey methodology
The Interac survey was conducted by Burson between February 17 and February 20, 2026, and included 1,500 adult residents across Canada. Respondents were selected from Leger’s web panel and the results were weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect Canada’s population distribution according to 2021 Census data.
For a randomly selected sample of this size, the associated margin of error would be plus or minus 2.5 percent, 19 times out of 20.
Interac says the findings underscore the growing complexity of fraud prevention in Canada’s increasingly digital economy. As scams become more closely tied to current events and powered by artificial intelligence, financial institutions, retailers, and consumers may all need to adapt to a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
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