Internet scams remain widespread in Canada, with more than 70% of Canadians personally aware of common digital fraud tactics despite a federal law passed 15 years ago aimed at curbing them, new research from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission shows.Blacklock's Reporter says a nationwide survey of 2,541 people found that 72% of respondents said they were aware of scammers using fake website links to steal personal data, and a majority had encountered unsolicited emails, texts, or calls with malicious intent. The CRTC commissioned the $248,988 study from Ipsos Ltd. as part of its ongoing public opinion research.Only 32% of those surveyed felt confident their personal information was protected when using online services like banking or shopping. Meanwhile, 57% said they often received unsolicited messages attempting to trick them into clicking harmful links or revealing private data. Just over half — 54% — reported that they or someone they knew had been targeted by a scam.Despite these high numbers, the research noted that relatively few Canadians were aware of the CRTC’s role in issuing scam warnings, raising questions about the agency's visibility and communication efforts. The report urged the CRTC to improve its ability to monitor public opinion and build trust in online safety.Parliament passed Bill C-28 in 2010 to restrict unwanted digital communications. The law, which took effect in 2014, led to over 1.1 million spam complaints in its first four years. But regulators and legal experts have long admitted that the legislation had limitations.“The most shocking thing I’ll say is that Canada’s anti-spam legislation was never going to eliminate all spam,” Steve Harroun, then CRTC chief compliance officer, told a parliamentary committee during early hearings on the law.Critics like Toronto-based lawyer Barry Sookman argued that while the law had theoretical aims to combat phishing, malware, and spyware, in practice it had “no material impact” on serious spam threats, especially those originating outside Canada. Sookman added that spam filters, rather than legislation, had done more to protect consumers.The new findings suggest that while Canadians are increasingly savvy about digital scams, gaps remain in both regulation and public protection — leaving many feeling vulnerable in the online marketplace.
