Text Message Scams Are Targeting Canadians — Here’s How to Outsmart Them

 

A growing number of Canadians are being targeted by smishing — phishing scams that arrive by text instead of email. The tactic is simple but effective: fraudsters pose as legitimate organizations such as banks, delivery companies, or even government agencies, hoping to trick recipients into clicking on malicious links or giving up personal information.

Metro CEO Eric La Flèche warns that awareness is the best defense. These scams often rely on urgency, fear, or tempting rewards to pressure people into acting quickly without thinking.

Watch for these red flags:

• Out-of-the-blue prize claims or urgent debt warnings
• Suspicious or shortened web links that don’t match the official site
• Pressure to act immediately or risk negative consequences
• Awkward grammar or strange wording indicating an automated scam

If you receive such a message, don’t click any links or reply. Instead, delete the text and report it to your phone provider or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

As La Flèche puts it, “Vigilance and education are our best shields against digital deception.”