NATIONAL COMMUNITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION MONTH
Think Before You Trust.
Stopping AI Impersonation Scams
Artificial intelligence is making some scams more convincing. Learn how to recognize the warning signs and protect yourself.
NATIONAL COMMUNITY SAFETY & CRIME PREVENTION MONTH
Think Before You Trust.
Stopping AI Impersonation Scams
Artificial intelligence is making some scams more convincing. Learn how to recognize the warning signs and protect yourself.
Someone you know. Or so it seems.
AI can make fraudulent communications look and sound like they come from someone you trust.
A family emergency
A phone call that sounds like a family member in distress.
An urgent payment
An email appearing to come from a supervisor requesting an urgent payment.
A familiar face
A fake video promoting an investment opportunity.
UNDERSTANDING THE THREAT
Trust. Urgency. Deception.
These scams rarely rely on sophisticated hacking. Instead, they exploit something far more personal: trust.
By combining artificial intelligence with familiar scam tactics, criminals can create convincing phone calls, emails, text messages, images and videos that appear to come from someone we know and trust.
The goal is the same: create urgency and pressure victims into acting before verifying the request.
REPORTED FRAUD LOSSES IN CANADA · 2025
$704M+
Canadians reported more than $704 million in fraud losses in 2025.
Authorities estimate only 5 to 10 per cent of incidents are ever reported.
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
PRACTICAL PREVENTION
Protect yourself from AI impersonation scams
A few simple precautions can help you recognize suspicious requests and respond safely.
01
Slow down
Fraudsters rely on urgency. Pause before responding to unexpected requests involving money or personal information.
02
Verify independently
Contact the person or organization using a trusted phone number or website rather than replying directly to the message.
03
Create a family verification plan
Establish a code word or security question to confirm someone’s identity during emergencies.
04
Question what you see and hear
Audio recordings, photographs and videos are no longer reliable proof of identity on their own.
05
Limit what you share publicly
Information posted online can help criminals create more convincing impersonation attempts.
06
Talk about fraud
Sharing information with family, friends and colleagues helps others recognize warning signs.
07
Report suspected fraud
Contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, even if no money was lost.
Pause. Verify. Think.
“Artificial intelligence is making some scams more convincing, but the most effective defence remains the same: pause, verify and think before you act.”
Gareth Jones
President & CEO, Canada Safety Council
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Suspect a scam? Report it.
Contact your local police service and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, even if no money was lost.
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Report suspected fraud online, whether you have lost money or not.
You can also report by phone:
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eastern time, excluding holidays.