Interactive decision flow
Is this a scam? A 60-second check
A few yes or no questions and a clear next step. Works for calls, texts, emails and messages.
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Free guides for staying safe from scams.
Plain steps for Canadians, with links to the official sources. Every guide shows when I last reviewed it, so check the date before acting on anything time-sensitive.
Something just happened
Steps to follow in order, starting today.
Interactive checklist
Email hacked? A free Canadian checklist
Secure the account, protect your money, and tell the right people. Saves your progress and prints.
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Quick answer and steps
Call from your bank's fraud department? How to spot the bank investigator scam
A caller says there is fraud on your card and asks for codes, a transfer or the card itself. How the bank investigator scam works and what to do.
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Quick answer and steps
BC Hydro scam calls and texts: how to tell, and what to do
A caller says BC Hydro will cut your power today unless you pay? Or a text offers a refund? What BC Hydro does not do, and how to check your account.
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Quick answer and steps
Canada Post text about a missed delivery or fee? Check before you pay
A text says your parcel could not be delivered and asks for a small fee. How to tell it is fake and how to track a real Canada Post parcel.
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Quick answer and steps
ICBC text about a traffic ticket or refund? It's a scam
Got a text from ICBC about an unpaid ticket, a suspended licence or a refund? ICBC says it does not text for payments. What to do if you clicked.
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Who to call, by city
How to report a scam in Metro Vancouver: who to call, in order
Who to call after a scam in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond and across Metro Vancouver: your bank, the Anti-Fraud Centre and local police.
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Quick answer and steps
Vancouver parking ticket texts and QR code stickers: both are scams
The City of Vancouver does not text about parking tickets or use QR codes for parking. How to pay safely, and what to do if you scanned one.
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Step-by-step guide
Meta account recovery: hacked Facebook and Instagram accounts
Official recovery steps for a taken-over Facebook, Instagram, or Threads account, plus practical ways to secure it once access is restored.
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Short quiz and checks
Is the CRA really contacting me? How to check
What the CRA does and does not do, a short quiz, and how to check for yourself.
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Step-by-step checklist
Tech support pop-up scam: what to do if you let them in
Step by step: disconnect, remove remote access apps, protect your money and change passwords.
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Protect yourself before it happens
A few minutes now, so the next scam is easier to spot.
Red flags and checks
Investment and crypto scams in BC: how to check before you invest
An online friend, ad or app promises guaranteed returns? How to check a person or platform with the BC Securities Commission before you put money in.
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Red flags and checks
Rental scams in Vancouver: how to check a listing before you pay
Fake Craigslist and Marketplace rentals are common in Metro Vancouver. Red flags, how to check a landlord, BC deposit limits, and what to do if you paid.
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Step-by-step guide
Facebook Plus, Meta Verified and Meta One: should you pay?
What Meta's paid plans actually offer, what Canadian readers should check before subscribing, and why paying does not replace account security.
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Step-by-step guide
Meta Accounts Center security checklist for families
Check linked Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp accounts, secure sign-ins and recovery details, and help a parent without taking over their account.
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Interactive quiz
How to spot a scam text message in Canada
A short quiz with realistic Canadian examples, then the red flags and what to do.
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Call script and safe word card
AI voice cloning scam calls: what to ask
What to ask, the hang-up rule, and a safe word generator with a card to print.
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Steps by phone type
How to stop spam calls and texts on iPhone and Android
Built-in settings for iPhone, Pixel, Samsung and other Android, and what each one costs you.
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Guide and checklist
Interac e-Transfer and Marketplace scams: how to stay safe
Safe buying and selling on Marketplace and Kijiji, and the e-Transfer tricks to know.
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Want a second pair of eyes on your family's accounts?
The family cyber safety setup secures your key accounts and phones, and includes 3 scam checks over 90 days with a clear answer within one business day. See what it covers.