Fraud can happen to anyone. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and often impersonate trusted organizations, including pension plans, financial institutions, and government agencies.
They may contact you by phone, email or text message and try to create a sense of urgency. Taking a moment to pause and verify information before responding can help protect your pension and personal information.
Common types of fraud
Impersonation scams
A scammer impersonates a trusted organization and asks for personal or financial information.
Phishing emails and text messages
Messages may appear legitimate but contain links designed to steal personal information, passwords or account details.
Unsolicited pension offers
You may receive an unexpected call or message offering a “free pension review” or financial advice. These offers are often intended to collect personal information.
Spoofed phone calls
A call may display the name or number of a trusted organization, even when it is not a legitimate caller.
Emergency family scams
A caller claims to be a family member in urgent need of money and pressures you to act quickly without verifying the situation.
Protect yourself
Never share:
- Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Banking information
- Passwords
- Verification or one-time passcodes
Legitimate organizations will not contact you unexpectedly to request this information.
Never click unexpected links or attachments
Emails and text messages may look legitimate but direct you to fraudulent websites or install malicious software. When in doubt, visit the organization’s website directly.
Never send money based on pressure or urgency
Scammers often create a false sense of urgency. Take time to verify the request independently before sending money or sharing information.
Warning signs of a scam
Be cautious if someone:
- Contacts you unexpectedly
- Pressures you to act immediately
- Threatens consequences if you do not respond
- Requests personal, financial or account information
- Asks for payment through gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency
What to do if you are unsure
Before responding to an unexpected call, email or text message:
- Pause.
- Verify the request using contact information from a trusted source.
- Contact your pension provider, financial institution or a trusted family member if you have concerns.
Do not use the contact information provided in the suspicious message.
If you think you’ve been targeted
- Contact your pension provider using contact information from an official website or statement.
- Report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
- Phone: 1-888-495-8501
- Website: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca