The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has launched its 2025 Fraud Prevention Month campaign, “The Masks of Fraud,” to help Canadians recognize, reject, and report scams.
In 2024, fraud victims in Canada lost a record $642 million, up from $578 million in 2023. Cyber-enabled scams accounted for 75% of losses, showing how criminals are using digital tactics to deceive people.
The top frauds in Canada last year included:
- Investment scams – $310M lost ($102.7M in Ontario)
- Spear phishing (email scams) – $67.2M lost ($39.5M in Ontario)
- Romance fraud – $58.4M lost ($19M in Ontario)
- Job scams – $47.1M lost ($14.8M in Ontario)
- Extortion fraud – $21M lost ($6.8M in Ontario)
The OPP urges everyone to report fraud, as it helps law enforcement track criminals, support investigations, and prevent future victims.
Written by Emily Chatwood
