A new survey from TransUnion reveals that Canadians are being targeted by digital fraud in online communities-including dating platforms and forums-at a rate well above the global average.
The survey, conducted in late 2025, polled nearly 13,000 participants across 18 countries, including about 1,000 Canadians. The suspected digital fraud attempt rate among Canadian users of online communities was 11.9 percent, up 63 percent from the prior year and significantly higher than the global average of 8.1 percent.
Andrew Sigfrid, director of fraud analytics at TransUnion Canada, says these are “relationship-driven fraud” attacks, where criminals build trust over time to eventually steal money or personal information. He notes the rise of generative AI and deepfakes makes these scams more sophisticated.
Sigfrid points to two main reasons Canadians are prime targets: heavy use of digital tools and platforms, and the country’s relative wealth. Stolen credit cards or fraudulent charges were the most common method, cited by 26 percent of Canadians, compared to the global average of 19 percent.
However, the survey also shows progress: suspected digital fraud dropped 73 percent in online retail, 62 percent in logistics, and 32 percent in financial services compared to a year earlier, indicating increased vigilance in more traditional channels.