Police in Canada recorded 177,472 fraud incidents in 2025, a rate of 426 per 100,000 people; including identity theft and identity fraud, the total fraud rate was 492. That total fell 4% from 2024 but remains 61% above 2015. Extortion fell 10% to 29 per 100,000 but is still more than three times the 2015 rate of 9.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), incident-based crime tables. Figures are for the whole census metropolitan area (CMA) unless stated. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
How common is fraud in Canada?
Fraud is now one of the more common property offences reported to police. In 2025:
| Offence (Canada, 2025) | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraud (excluding identity offences) | 177,472 | 426 | – |
| Total fraud, including identity theft and identity fraud | – | 492 | -4% from 2024; +61% from 2015 |
| Extortion | 12,132 | 29 | -10% from 2024; more than 3x the 2015 rate (9) |
By our arithmetic, identity theft and identity fraud account for the difference between the two fraud rates, about 66 per 100,000. Fraud in total was more common than break-ins (264 per 100,000) or vehicle theft (201).
Is fraud going up or down?
Both, depending on the timescale. Total police-reported fraud fell 4% between 2024 and 2025. Over ten years, though, it has risen sharply: the 2025 rate was 61% higher than in 2015.
Extortion shows the same pattern more strongly. The rate fell 10% in 2025, to 29 per 100,000, but it was 9 per 100,000 in 2015, so it has more than tripled over the decade.
Statistics Canada’s figures do not break these offences down by method, so we cannot say from this data how many were committed online or by phone. What the long-term numbers do show is that fraud and extortion have grown while traditional property crimes such as break-ins have fallen.
Which Canadian cities report the most fraud?
| Census metropolitan area | Fraud incidents per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|
| Moncton | 584 |
| Winnipeg | 532 |
| Edmonton | 521 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 504 |
| Ottawa (Ont. part) | 484 |
| Saskatoon | 483 |
| Halifax | 440 |
| Québec | 432 |
| Canada | 426 |
| Toronto | 417 |
| Vancouver | 410 |
| Calgary | 401 |
| Gatineau (Que. part) | 389 |
| Hamilton | 367 |
| Montréal | 339 |
These rates are for fraud excluding identity offences. Fraud rates are much more even across the country than most other crimes: the range among these metros runs from about 340 to 580 per 100,000. That fits the nature of the offence, which often has little to do with where a victim lives.
A fraud can also be committed by someone in another province or country, so a city’s rate reflects where victims report, not necessarily where offenders are.
How does fraud compare with other property crime?
Ten years ago, break-ins and vehicle theft were more prominent in police statistics. Since then the pattern has shifted. By 2025, break and enter was 41% below its 2015 rate and vehicle theft 9% below, while total fraud was 61% above and extortion more than three times higher. In other words, a growing share of the property crime Canadians report is now about money and personal information rather than physical belongings.
Why are fraud figures an undercount?
Fraud is among the least-reported crimes. People may feel embarrassed, may report only to their bank or card issuer, or may not realise they were targeted until much later. More generally, Statistics Canada’s 2019 General Social Survey found only about 29% of criminal victimizations were reported to police.
So police data show a trend in reported fraud, not the full amount. A rising rate can partly reflect easier reporting, and a falling one does not necessarily mean fewer people were targeted.
How can I protect myself from fraud and scams?
These general, common-sense steps cover most of the scams people encounter:
- Slow down. Scammers create urgency: a “final notice”, a family member “in trouble”, a prize that expires today. Take time to check before acting.
- Verify independently. If someone claims to be from your bank, a government agency, the police or a utility, hang up and call back on a number you find yourself, such as the one on your card or the organization’s official website.
- Never share one-time codes or passwords. Legitimate organizations will not ask you to read out a verification code.
- Be wary of unusual payment requests. Requests to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or wire transfer to someone you have not met are a strong warning sign.
- Protect your accounts. Use unique passwords, turn on two-step verification and keep devices updated.
- Check statements and credit reports. Unfamiliar transactions or accounts can be the first sign of identity theft.
- Online threats. If someone threatens to share private images or information unless you pay, do not pay or keep engaging. Keep the messages, stop contact and report it to police. Paying rarely ends the demands.
- Talk to family. Agree a simple check, such as a question only family would know, for calls claiming a relative needs urgent money.
What should I do if I’ve been scammed?
- Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to stop or reverse payments where possible.
- Change passwords on any affected accounts, starting with email.
- Report it to your local police. Keep receipts, messages, phone numbers and usernames.
- If your identity was used, contact the credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your file.
Our guide on how to report a crime in Canada explains when to use 911 and when to use non-emergency or online reporting.
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Fraud and scams in Canada FAQ
How many fraud cases were reported in Canada in 2025?
Police recorded 177,472 fraud incidents (426 per 100,000). Including identity theft and identity fraud, the total fraud rate was 492 per 100,000.
Is fraud increasing in Canada?
Total fraud fell 4% in 2025, but the rate is 61% higher than in 2015.
How much has extortion increased?
Extortion fell 10% in 2025 to 29 per 100,000 (12,132 incidents), but that is more than three times the 2015 rate of 9.
Which city has the highest fraud rate?
Among the metros in our data, Moncton had the highest police-reported fraud rate in 2025 at 584 per 100,000, followed by Winnipeg (532) and Edmonton (521).
Do most fraud victims report to police?
No. Fraud is widely under-reported, and only about 29% of all victimizations were reported to police in Statistics Canada’s 2019 survey.
Related: How to report a crime in Canada · Crime rate in Canada 2025 · Is crime going up in Canada? · Personal safety apps compared · Safety tips for tourists. Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.