Question 1

What is the "CRA Phone Impersonation Scam" scam in Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Callers claim to be from the Canada Revenue Agency, Service Canada, or the Canada Border Services Agency and tell victims they owe back taxes or face immediate arrest. Scammers create urgency by threatening police action or deportation, then demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre identifies this as one of the highest-loss scam types targeting visitors and new arrivals in Canada. The CRA never demands immediate payment by phone, threatens arrest, or asks for gift cards. Hang up immediately — do not engage. If concerned, call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 to verify any genuine outstanding amounts.

Question 2

What is the "AI Voice and Deepfake Fraud" scam in Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Toronto police confirmed in February 2026 that AI-powered scams surged dramatically in the preceding six months, with fraudsters using voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members, bank representatives, or employers. Victims receive calls that sound exactly like a relative in distress asking for emergency money transfers, or a bank security agent warning of account compromise. Losses in Toronto reached $433 million in 2025, a 17 percent increase year-over-year, largely attributed to AI-enabled fraud. Establish a family code word that only genuine relatives know, and use it to verify any urgent money request by phone. Call the person back on a number you already have stored rather than one provided by the caller. Never transfer money based solely on a phone call, regardless of how familiar the voice sounds.

Question 3

What is the "Spoofed Toronto Police Phone Scam" scam in Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Scammers use technology to make calls appear to originate from the Toronto Police Service or other law enforcement numbers. Toronto police issued a public warning in March 2026 confirming callers claim to be TPS detectives investigating fraud or identity theft, provide partial personal details about the victim to sound credible, then demand payment in Bitcoin or gift cards to resolve the supposed criminal matter. The caller ID genuinely displays a Toronto Police Service number. Toronto Police will never call to demand payment in Bitcoin, gift cards, or wire transfers. If you receive such a call, hang up and call 416-808-2222 directly to verify whether there is any legitimate police matter involving you. Report incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Question 4

What is the "Fake TTC Transit Pass Facebook Pages" scam in Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Fraudulent Facebook pages impersonating the Toronto Transit Commission offer heavily discounted Presto cards and transit passes for sale online. The Canadian Press confirmed in 2025 that these pages are part of a coordinated global scam network, with one page titled "Public transit in Toronto" created specifically to harvest payment and personal data. Victims who attempt to purchase receive nothing and have their financial information compromised. Purchase Presto cards and transit passes only through the official Presto website (prestocard.ca), TTC ticket vending machines at subway stations, or authorized retail partners like Shoppers Drug Mart. The TTC never sells passes through social media pages or third-party Facebook listings.

Online Scams in Toronto

CRA Phone Impersonation Scam

AI Voice and Deepfake Fraud

Spoofed Toronto Police Phone Scam

Fake TTC Transit Pass Facebook Pages

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