A new TransUnion survey suggests Canadians are reporting suspected digital fraud attempts in online communities at a rate higher than the global average. The findings point to growing risks on dating platforms, forums, social media, and gaming communities, where fraudsters build trust before attempting to steal money or personal information.
Canadians are reporting higher rates of suspected fraud attempts in online communities such as dating platforms, forums, social media, and gaming spaces, according to a new TransUnion survey.
The survey, conducted near the end of 2025, asked nearly 13,000 people across 18 countries about their experiences with suspected digital fraud. About 1,000 Canadians were included in the results.
Among Canadian participants, 11.9 per cent said they suspected they had been targeted by digital fraud attempts while using online communities. That figure was higher than the global average of 8.1 per cent and represented a 63 per cent increase from the previous year.
The findings suggest fraudsters are increasingly moving into spaces where people form personal relationships, exchange information, and build trust over time. Unlike fraud tied to hacked websites or data breaches, these schemes often involve direct contact between the fraudster and the target.
TransUnion Canada’s director of fraud analytics, Andrew Sigfrid, said online communities have become attractive environments for fraudsters because they allow criminals to build relationships before asking for money or personal information. These can include dating apps, online forums, social media platforms, and video gaming communities.
Romance scams are one of the most recognizable examples. Fraudsters may pose as a potential partner, gradually gain a victim’s trust, and then ask for money under an emotional or urgent pretext. In some cases, the requests may be relatively small at first, such as money for a plane ticket. In more serious cases, victims can be manipulated into giving access to their savings or other financial resources.
The survey also points to the growing role of artificial intelligence in online fraud. Fraudsters may use generative AI or deepfake technology to appear younger, more attractive, or more believable online. These tools can make it harder for victims to detect deception, especially when the fraudster is tailoring their appearance or communications to match what the target expects.
The report suggests Canadians may be attractive targets for two main reasons. First, Canadians are highly active online, using digital tools for banking, shopping, communication, entertainment, and social interaction. Each of those digital touchpoints can create opportunities for fraudsters to make contact. Second, Canada is a relatively wealthy developed country, making Canadian victims potentially more lucrative targets.
Sigfrid noted that the higher rate of reported suspected fraud attempts does not necessarily mean Canadians are more vulnerable than people in other countries. Rather, it may indicate that fraudsters are deliberately targeting Canadians because of their digital engagement and perceived financial value.
The survey also identified stolen credit cards and fraudulent charges as the most common way Canadian respondents believed money had been taken from them over the past year. That method was cited by 26 per cent of affected Canadian respondents, compared with a global average of 19 per cent.
At the same time, TransUnion reported declines in suspected fraud volume in more traditional high-volume sectors. Suspected fraud attempts were down year-over-year in online retail, logistics, and financial services, suggesting consumers may be becoming more cautious in those areas.
The concern is that fraudsters are adapting. As people become more alert to suspicious emails, payment requests, and account activity, criminals may shift toward relationship-driven fraud in spaces where users are more relaxed and emotionally engaged.
Experts continue to warn that consumers should be cautious about sharing personal or financial information with people they meet online, even when the relationship appears genuine. Requests for money, secrecy, urgent action, or access to accounts should be treated as red flags.
The survey highlights a growing challenge for Canadians: fraud is no longer limited to suspicious emails or fake websites. Increasingly, it is appearing in the same online spaces where people go to socialize, date, play, and connect.
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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.