Fraud overconfidence putting Canadians’ finances at risk, TD survey finds
The risky behaviours flagged in the TD survey include using public Wi-Fi to access personal or financial accounts, opening email attachments from unfamiliar senders, clicking links in texts or emails before confirming their origin, and downloading apps or software from unverified sources.
A notable 41 per cent of respondents said they never consult resources or actively educate themselves on fraud prevention — a figure that stands out given how frequently Canadians are encountering fraud attempts. According to the same survey, 46 per cent of respondents said they encounter scams or fraud attempts on a weekly or even daily basis.
Nearly one in four Canadians — 24 per cent — said they or a family member had been the victim of financial fraud or a scam within the past year.
Gen Z: high knowledge, high risk
Younger Canadians present a paradox. According to the survey data, 67 per cent of Gen Z respondents consult resources or seek fraud prevention advice at least once a year, and 52 per cent said they had intervened to help a family member navigate a scam, a higher rate of proactive involvement than older generations.
However, Gen Z also reported the highest rate of risky digital behaviour: 65 per cent admitted to habits that could make them more vulnerable to fraud, compared with the national average of 52 per cent.
