Canadians are reporting higher levels of suspected digital fraud in online communities, including dating platforms, social media groups, gaming spaces, and discussion forums, according to Global News. A new TransUnion survey found that Canadians are being targeted in these spaces at a rate above the global average, raising fresh concerns about romance scams and other trust based fraud attempts.
The survey, conducted near the end of 2025, included nearly 13,000 people across 18 countries, including about 1,000 Canadians. Among Canadian participants, 11.9 percent said they suspected they had been targeted by digital fraud while using online communities. That figure was up 63 percent from the previous year and higher than the global average of 8.1 percent.
TransUnion Canada’s Andrew Sigfrid told Global News that fraudsters are increasingly moving into spaces where people form relationships and build trust. These scams may begin in dating apps, gaming communities, online forums, or social media platforms, where criminals pose as friends, romantic partners, or trusted contacts before asking for money or personal information.
Experts say artificial intelligence and deepfake tools are making these scams harder to detect. Fraudsters can now alter their appearance, create convincing online identities, and tailor their approach to match a target’s interests or expectations. In some cases, scams may involve small requests for money, while others can develop into long term manipulation that puts a victim’s savings at risk.
Sigfrid said Canadians may be targeted more often because the country has a highly digital population that frequently uses online banking, ecommerce, and digital communication tools. Canada’s relative wealth also makes it attractive to fraudsters seeking larger financial returns. However, he noted that higher reported fraud attempts do not necessarily mean Canadians are more vulnerable, only that they may be more frequently targeted.
The survey also found that stolen credit cards and fraudulent charges were the most common ways Canadians reported losing money, cited by 26 percent of respondents compared with a global average of 19 percent. At the same time, suspected fraud has declined in some traditional sectors, including online retail, logistics, and financial services, suggesting Canadians may be becoming more cautious in those areas.
Experts say awareness remains one of the strongest protections against online fraud. Canadians are being urged to avoid sharing personal or financial information with anyone they do not fully trust, watch for pressure tactics, and be cautious when online relationships quickly turn into requests for money. For more consumer safety and Canada news, visit https://www.weeklyvoice.com and https://www.weeklyvoice.com/category/canada.
