Newcomers to Canada targeted by online scams, study shows – Winnipeg [Video]

It’s a scary truth, but more and more people are getting tricked by online scams.

According to Statista, internet fraud has increased tremendously in the past decade, with over 43,000 cases reported in 2023.

“The fidelity of these attacks is going up and the skill level of fraudsters who perpetuate these attacks is also going up. They’re incredibly professional,” says technology analyst Carmi Levy.

Often, it’s people who need help with immigration or who are thinking of leaving the country who are targeted.

“They’re just looking for the easiest mark and at this point, individuals who are looking for immigration guidance… they are ripe for the picking,” says Levy.

A recent study by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship revealed that 26 per cent of newcomers are considering leaving Canada within the next two years.

Winnipeg lawyer Sofia Mirza notes that these scams often involve requests for sensitive personal information, such as an individual’s …