Fact or fiction? RBC Poll shows Canadians struggle with more frequent and harder-to-spot scams
MWN-AI** Summary
A recent RBC poll highlights the growing concern among Canadians regarding fraudulent activities, revealing that an overwhelming 81% of respondents feel there’s a new scam to be wary of almost every week. The survey, conducted as part of the annual Fraud Prevention Month, further indicates that 83% of Canadians now assume that any unexpected text, email, or call could be a scam.
The poll found that many Canadians struggle to differentiate between legitimate advertisements and scams, with 87% stating it's increasingly difficult to tell whether an ad is real. Online shopping also poses risks, as 75% of those surveyed express difficulty in confirming the legitimacy of a business's website. Alarmingly, 39% feel unprepared to identify scams powered by artificial intelligence, and 68% believe AI could eventually make scams undetectable.
Despite heightened awareness, a significant portion of the population still falls prey to scams—41% have clicked on a malicious link or opened a fraudulent email, and 40% have unknowingly conversed with a scammer over the phone. Frustration is palpable, with 83% expressing anger over the prevalence of scams and 56% feeling bombarded by them in their daily lives.
While 76% of Canadians report increased vigilance to protect themselves against fraud, 54% admit they are unsure of the necessary steps. RBC stresses the importance of pausing before acting on unexpected communications, verifying requests through trusted sources, and utilizing protective measures like multi-factor authentication and transaction alerts.
This consistent rise in scams signals an urgent need for awareness and proactive measures to safeguard personal and financial information amidst increasingly sophisticated fraudulent schemes.
MWN-AI** Analysis
As Canadians grapple with an increasingly sophisticated landscape of scams—evidenced by the recent RBC Poll—investors and consumers alike must adopt a proactive and vigilant approach to their financial activities. The poll shows that 81% of Canadians perceive new scams emerging weekly, while 83% express the need to treat unexpected communications as potential threats. This environment starkly highlights the necessity of safeguarding personal finances and investments against fraudulent schemes.
Given the evolving nature of scams, particularly those leveraging artificial intelligence, consumers are advised to prioritize vigilance. For individuals planning investments or everyday transactions, leveraging multiple verification methods, such as two-factor authentication and transaction alerts, can provide essential layers of security. Moreover, educating oneself about common forms of scams—ranging from impersonation schemes to fraudulent investment opportunities—can help mitigate risks.
Market watchers should remain cognizant of sectors that are more susceptible to scams, especially those involving digital transactions. E-commerce companies may face increased scrutiny as consumers become warier of fraudulent sites. Conversely, businesses that can offer robust security features, user education, and transparent communication might see a surge in consumer trust and loyalty.
Additionally, engagement in community initiatives or partnerships with fraud prevention organizations can enhance corporate reputations while actively contributing to societal wellbeing. Financial institutions should prioritize resources that help clients identify and report scams, reflecting a commitment not only to profit but also to customer welfare.
In conclusion, as scams become harder to spot, both consumers and investors need to be more educated and proactive in protecting their financial interests. Emphasizing education, security, and community involvement will not only safeguard assets but may also sustain consumer confidence in the marketplace.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Canada NewsWire
- 81% feel like there is a new scam to watch out for almost every week
- 83% feel it is safest to assume any unexpected text, email or call is a scam
- RBC shares tips to help Canadians spot and avoid falling victim to scams
TORONTO, March 2, 2026 /CNW/ - Not all scams look suspicious and that is what worries Canadians. Canadians feel increasingly vulnerable as they navigate a growing wave of scams designed to appear legitimate by exploiting familiarity, authority and trust. According to RBC's annual Fraud Prevention Month Poll, 81% of Canadians now feel there is a new scam to watch out for every single week, leading a majority (83%) to assume every unexpected text, email or call is a potential threat.
The RBC poll also found that:
- 87% of Canadians say it is getting harder to know whether an ad is real or a scam
- 75% feel it is getting tougher to tell if a business' website is legitimate when shopping online
- 39% do not feel confident they can spot artificial intelligence (AI)-powered scams today
- 68% say AI will eventually make scams impossible to detect
- 41% have opened an email/attachment or clicked on a link and 40% have spoken with someone on the phone before realizing it was a scam
"Canadians are staying alert, questioning unexpected messages and doing what they can to reduce their risk, but scams are evolving faster than ever," said Amit Sadhu, Senior Vice President, Credit and Fraud Management at RBC. "As scams become more frequent and harder to detect, people are left second guessing every message, call or click. We encourage Canadians to stay vigilant, pause before acting, verify requests, enable alerts and multi-factor authentication, and safeguard their personal and financial information."
Canadians are feeling frustrated
- 83% are angry that scams have become a part of everyday life
- 81% feel like there is a new scam to watch out for almost every week
- 78% are fed up with having to look out for scams
- 56% report feeling bombarded by scams
Canadians are vigilant, but remain vulnerable
- While 76% of Canadians are doing more now to protect themselves against fraud and scams than in previous years, 54% admit they do not always know what steps to take to protect themselves
- 76% are more concerned about fraud than ever before with 54% feeling more vulnerable to scams today than they did a year ago
- 45% believe they could be fooled by an impersonation scam and 40% believe it would be easy for scammers to impersonate them to family or friends, but only 27% have a family code word to protect against impersonation scams
- While 67% do not think they could be fooled by an investment or cryptocurrency scam, it remains one of the top scams according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
How can Canadians help protect themselves from scammers?
- Pause when emotions are triggered. Scammers often create a sense of urgency, fear or excitement to cause quick action. They may also impersonate family, friends, people of authority such as police or known brands like your bank to gain trust, all with the goal of stealing money or personal information. Stopping to check the sender or caller can help mitigate the risk of falling victim to a scam. If you are still unsure, talk about the request with someone you trust
- Use trusted channels to verify requests. Unexpected requests for money, access or personal information should always be confirmed using known contact information, not details provided in the message or by the messenger. Never click links or open attachments from unsolicited texts or emails
- Watch out for personalized scams. Scammers will often tailor messages, using details that make them seem familiar. Unexpected communications that reference personal details or seem unusually specific should be treated with caution. Review privacy settings, limit what you share publicly, and close unused accounts to limit the information fraudsters can exploit. They often piece together information across email, social media, online shopping and other digital touchpoints to make fraudulent messages appear more legitimate
- Be proactive. Protecting yourself from fraud and scams is not just about reacting in the moment, it is also about acting preventatively. Use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and set up alerts for your banking and credit card transactions. Report suspicious activity immediately.
- Where can Canadians learn more about scams and fraud prevention tips?
- Explore RBC's My Money Matters to learn how to identify scams and protect yourself against evolving threats
- Check RBC Scam Alerts regularly for updates on the latest scams, from impersonation and travel scams to deepfake investment and cryptocurrency scams
- Visit StandAgainstScams.ca by the Canadian Anti-Scam Coalition (CASC) to learn the stop, check and talk approach to help protect yourself and others
Fast Facts: 2026 RBC Fraud Prevention Month Poll
Selected Findings – National & Regional
"AGREE" RESPONSES | CAN | BC | AB | SK / MB | ON | QC | AC |
It is safest to assume any text, email or call is a scam until proven legitimate | 83 % | 81 % | 85 % | 81 % | 87 % | 76 % | 87 % |
It feels like there is a new scam to look out for almost every week | 81 % | 79 % | 78 % | 80 % | 85 % | 76 % | 84 % |
It is getting harder to know if an ad is real or a scam | 87 % | 84 % | 87 % | 81 % | 89 % | 84 % | 91 % |
It is getting hard to know if a business' website is legitimate when shopping online | 75 % | 74 % | 76 % | 74 % | 76 % | 73 % | 73 % |
Artificial intelligence will eventually make scams impossible to detect | 68 % | 64 % | 78 % | 65 % | 70 % | 64 % | 63 % |
I have clicked on a link or opened an email or attachment only to later realize it was from a scammer | 41 % | 51 % | 44 % | 44 % | 42 % | 31 % | 41 % |
I spoke to someone on the phone, realizing during the call that it was a fraudster | 40 % | 48 % | 45 % | 50 % | 37 % | 33 % | 48 % |
I feel angry that scams have become such a constant part of everyday life | 83 % | 80 % | 86 % | 77 % | 87 % | 78 % | 87 % |
I am fed-up with always having to look out for scams | 78 % | 76 % | 76 % | 81 % | 83 % | 67 % | 86 % |
I feel bombarded by scams | 56 % | 56 % | 58 % | 48 % | 62 % | 46 % | 56 % |
I never share my passwords, PINs, or login details with anyone | 93 % | 94 % | 92 % | 91 % | 94 % | 94 % | 93 % |
I take extra steps to verify all my financial transactions and check my statements | 85 % | 86 % | 91 % | 85 % | 86 % | 78 % | 89 % |
I always use more than one way to authenticate myself (multi-factor authentication) when possible | 88 % | 87 % | 89 % | 89 % | 89 % | 87 % | 89 % |
I have set up transaction alerts for my bank accounts and credit cards to help me spot any unusual activity | 76 % | 82 % | 83 % | 75 % | 76 % | 69 % | 80 % |
I am doing more now to protect myself against fraud and scams than in previous years | 76 % | 69 % | 76 % | 74 % | 79 % | 75 % | 80 % |
I do not always know what I should be doing to protect myself against fraud and scams | 54 % | 55 % | 54 % | 61 % | 58 % | 44 % | 57 % |
I am more concerned about fraud than ever | 76 % | 79 % | 74 % | 68 % | 83 % | 64 % | 81 % |
I feel more vulnerable to scams today than I did a year ago | 54 % | 55 % | 49 % | 48 % | 62 % | 45 % | 53 % |
I believe it would be easy for scammers to impersonate me to my family or friends | 40 % | 45 % | 47 % | 39 % | 42 % | 34 % | 35 % |
I have a code word among family members to protect ourselves from impersonation scams | 27 % | 24 % | 34 % | 23 % | 24 % | 35 % | 16 % |
I could never be fooled by an investment or cryptocurrency scam | 67 % | 66 % | 63 % | 62 % | 64 % | 78 % | 61 % |
"DISAGREE" RESPONSES | CAN | BC | AB | SK / MB | ON | QC | AC |
I could never be fooled by an impersonation scam | 45 % | 58 % | 44 % | 38 % | 51 % | 28 % | 51 % |
I feel confident that I can recognize a scam that uses artificial intelligence | 39 % | 45 % | 37 % | 29 % | 37 % | 43 % | 38 % |
About the RBC 2026 Fraud Prevention Month Poll
These findings are from a survey conducted by RBC from January 5 to 9, 2026, among a representative sample of n=1540 online adult Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. An additional boost of n=303 Canadians aged 60 and older were included to ensure a minimum read of n=100 was achieved regionally. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of ±2.50 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 101,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.?
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.
For more information, please contact:
Michaela DiMarcantonio, RBC Corporate Communications, 416-704-6431
SOURCE RBC Royal Bank
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FAQ**
How is the Royal Bank of Canada RY leveraging technology and partnerships to enhance consumer education about the increasing sophistication of scams as highlighted in their recent poll findings?
In what ways does the Royal Bank of Canada RY plan to utilize insights from the 20Fraud Prevention Month Poll to further strengthen customer protection against evolving scam tactics?
Given that 68% of Canadians believe AI will make scams undetectable, how is the Royal Bank of Canada RY addressing these concerns in their fraud prevention strategies?
What specific measures is the Royal Bank of Canada RY implementing to support the 76% of Canadians who feel more vulnerable to scams, based on the recent RBC poll results?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Royal Bank of Canada (TSXC: RY:CC).
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