Quebecers are the most likely in Canada to get catfished — at least, according to a Techshielder study, they are. The cybersecurity blog compiled data on worldwide dating scam reports and found that Canada had the third-highest number of catfishing reports globally (1,054) in 2020, behind only Nigeria (1,129) and, in first place, the Philippines (1,315).
In Canada, Quebec topped the list with 376 dating scams reported in 2020, totalling $4.5 million in losses, according to Techshielder.
Quebec was followed by Ontario with 366 scams reported in 2020.
The RCMP and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) consistently warn Canadians to watch out for dating scams.
According to the CAFC, scammers usually operate by building online relationships with unsuspecting individuals using emails or fake profiles and then asking their victims to give or receive money, make an investment or join a business venture with them.
"In today's society, it's normal to meet and build a relationship online, especially during a pandemic," Lasse Walstad, Techshielder co-founder, said in a press release.
"If you are dating over the internet, looking for the one, it's important to be on your toes, so you can spot when something [is] amuck."
"They are people out there who will take advantage of those looking for love, thus before you fall for the whirlwind that is love or send any money, look out for any red flags. If it's too good to be true, then it usually is."
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
