Your Digital Health Matters

Strengthen Your Cyber Defences

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wellness booster!

Learn what banks
won't ever ask!

Cyber security awareness brought to you by the Canadian Bankers Association — Helping you stay cyber safe —

Time to strengthen your cyber defences

Fraud is everywhere and online criminals are experts at trying to trick you into falling for their scams. This website, created by the Canadian Bankers Association on behalf of banks in Canada, is dedicated to equipping you with the necessary tools and practical strategies to protect against scams, identify fraud, and strengthen your cyber defences.

Fact:

The problem is getting worse

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reported $530 million in victim losses in 2022, up 40% from 2021 and it’s estimated that only five to 10 per cent of victims report to the CAFC.

Source: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/
en/news/2023/fraud-prevention-month-2023-fraud-losses-canada-reach-historic-level

Your digital health matters – how to strengthen your cyber defences

Prevent

Defend against online attacks by protecting your software. Install anti‑virus and anti-spyware software on all your connected devices and keep them up to date. And never delay on software updates and patches - install software updates as soon as they are available so you’re protected against the latest threats. Even better – automate the updates so they’re installed regularly.
Use multi-factor authentication to access your devices and never share the authentication code with anyone, even if it sounds like your “bank” calling (that’s a sign of the OTP scam)

Practice Safety

Get in the habit of creating strong, unique passwords or passphrases for your sensitive online accounts like your bank account and never share sensitive personal information. If you’re not sure that a request is a scam, ask for help from someone you trust.

Promote Digital Wellness

Invest in your scam awareness. Read articles on scams, request a fraud prevention seminar, educate yourself and others on common scam tactics and sign up for alerts that will help you spot the latest scams like the Canadian Bankers Association’s free monthly Fraud Prevention Tip email newsletter.
Remember demands, threats, suspicious links, warnings, and confusing requests are all tools scammers use to trick you.

Stay in the know!

The CBA publishes a regular Fraud Prevention Tip email newsletter. Sign up to learn about the latest frauds and scams.

What your bank won’t ask you

One way to strengthen your cyber defences is to learn how to tell a legitimate request from your bank from a scam. Many scams impersonate banks and bank staff to trick you into falling for their scam. Know what your bank would never inquire about, and safeguard your finances with confidence:

Your bank will never ask for your password.

Your bank will never ask you for your password, your login credentials or the one-time passcode to login.

Your bank will never send a threatening email, text or phone call.

Your bank will never send a scary-sounding message that your account will be closed if you don’t act immediately.

Your bank will never ask for a payment of a debt in gift cards.

Your bank will never demand gift cards of any kind or bitcoins in payment of an overdue bill or debt.

Defending your small business against scams

As a small business owner or manager, are you aware of the common ways cyber criminals are targeting your business? We can help.

Cyber criminals target small businesses because often times these businesses might not have the resources to implement robust cyber security safeguards. As a small business owner, you need to protect your business and your customer data from cyber threats. The good news is you don’t need to be a computer expert to implement effective cyber hygiene practices. Develop a cyber security plan that includes:

procedures on how to protect your computers and networks from cyber attacks
mandatory employee training on security principles and how to recognize common scams targeted at small businesses
processes and procedures on how to respond to cyber security issues
an ongoing plan to update and adjust your cyber security safeguards to respond to changes to your business’ vulnerabilities.

Can you spot
a scam?

How can you recognize a phishing scam? We’re here to help.

Banks in Canada take fraud, cyber security and data protection very seriously and are working around the clock to safeguard your money and personal information.

Take a quick quiz below to test your scam-spotting skills

Quiz #1:

How to spot a phishing scam

Check it out!

Quiz #2:

Social engineering:
A peek behind the curtain

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Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week!

Quiz #3:

Protecting your small business
from phishing attacks

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Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week!

Quiz #4:

How to protect
yourself and others

Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week! Check back next week!

Check it out!

Fact:

We know we have to help others.

Almost two-thirds of Canadians have helped someone navigate digital technologies over the past two years. And fraud awareness is a key part of digital literacy.

Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/201014/dq201014a-eng.htm

What banks are doing to protect you from frauds and scams

Banks take extensive steps to protect your money and personal information and provide a wide range of fraud prevention information for customers. It is important to remember that fraudulent e-mails, voicemails and texts sent out by criminals may look and sound like they come from banks or retailers, but they are scams and should be reported to the company being spoofed and deleted.

To report a fraudulent email, be sure to send the email as an attachment.

The voice of more than 60 domestic and foreign banks

The Canadian Bankers Association is the voice of more than 60 domestic and foreign banks operating in Canada and their 280,000 employees. It also to provides governments and others with a centralized contact to all banks on matters relating to banking in Canada. The CBA advocates for public policies that contribute to a sound, thriving banking system to ensure Canadians can succeed in their financial goals.

The Association promotes financial literacy to help Canadians make informed financial decisions and sponsors two financial literacy seminar programs: Your Money Students and Your Money Seniors.

The Association also works with banks and law enforcement to help protect customers against financial crime and promote fraud awareness.

Strengthen Your Cyber Defences

Time to strengthen your cyber defences

The problem is getting worse

Your digital health matters – how to strengthen your cyber defences

What your bank won’t ask you

Your bank will never ask for your password.

Your bank will never send a threatening email, text or phone call.

Your bank will never ask for a payment of a debt in gift cards.

Defending your small business against scams

Can you spot a scam?

How to spot a phishing scam

Social engineering:A peek behind the curtain

Protecting your small businessfrom phishing attacks

How to protectyourself and others

We know we have to help others.

What banks are doing to protect you from frauds and scams

The voice of more than 60 domestic and foreign banks

Can you spot
a scam?

Social engineering:
A peek behind the curtain

Protecting your small business
from phishing attacks

How to protect
yourself and others