Canadian survey finds over half engage in fraud‑vulnerable habits

A survey commissioned by Toronto‑Dominion Bank and carried out by polling firm Leger reveals that more than half of Canadians display behaviours that increase their susceptibility to fraud. The study, which surveyed 1,500 adults and 262 business owners between Dec 18 and Jan 5, found 46 % of respondents encounter scams or fraud attempts weekly or daily. Over 50 % said they use public Wi‑Fi for personal finance, open unknown email attachments, click unverified links, or download apps from unfamiliar sites.

Nearly one‑quarter reported that they or a family member had fallen victim to financial fraud or scams in the past year. While 89 % feel confident in spotting fraud, TD’s vice‑president of fraud management Tarundeep Dhot described this confidence as a “double‑edged sword,” warning that over‑confidence can lead to hasty decisions that scammers exploit. The poll carries a margin of error of ±2.5 % at the 95 % confidence level.