Every day, millions of Canadians go online to read the news, connect with family, manage their banking, and explore their interests. For most people, this is a safe, productive experience. But the internet does have risks — and seniors are, unfortunately, among the most frequently targeted groups when it comes to online fraud, scams, and misinformation.
This guide won't alarm you. Its purpose is to give you practical, grounded knowledge so that you can recognise risks when they appear and respond to them calmly and sensibly. Being safe online is not about being fearful — it's about being informed.
Understanding How Scams Work
Online scammers succeed not because their victims are unintelligent, but because their techniques are specifically designed to trigger an emotional response before the target has time to think. Common triggers include urgency ("act now or your account will be suspended"), fear ("you've been hacked"), and reward ("you've won a prize"). Once you know to look for these emotional triggers, they become much easier to spot.
The most common online scams targeting Canadians include:
- Phishing emails: Messages that appear to come from a bank, government agency, or company you know, asking you to click a link and enter your details.
- Tech support scams: Pop-up messages or phone calls claiming your computer has a virus, urging you to call a number or download software.
- Lottery and prize scams: Notifications that you've won something, but must pay a fee or provide personal details to claim it.
- Romance scams: Fraudulent relationships built online, often over weeks or months, before money is requested.
- Fake online shopping: Websites that look legitimate but sell counterfeit goods or take payment without delivering anything.
How to Identify a Trustworthy Website
One of the most useful skills you can develop is the ability to quickly assess whether a website is legitimate. Here are the key things to look for:
Check the address bar: Legitimate websites use "https://" — the "s" stands for secure. Look for a small padlock icon in the address bar. Be aware, though, that a padlock alone does not guarantee a site is legitimate; it only means your connection to that site is encrypted.
Look at the domain name carefully: Scammers often create website addresses that look almost like the real thing. For example, "www.paypa1.com" (using the number 1 instead of a letter L) instead of "www.paypal.com". Always read the full web address before clicking or entering information.
Check for contact information: Reputable organisations have clear contact details, physical addresses, and — ideally — phone numbers. Be suspicious of websites with no contact information or only a web form.
Look for spelling and grammar errors: Many fraudulent sites are hastily constructed and contain obvious errors in their text. Professional organisations invest in their communications.
Protecting Your Personal Information
Your personal information — your full name, address, date of birth, Social Insurance Number, and banking details — is valuable. Treat it that way. Here are the core principles to follow:
- Never share your Social Insurance Number online unless you are certain you're on an official government website and the process genuinely requires it.
- Your bank will never ask you for your PIN, password, or full account number via email or phone. If someone does ask, end the communication immediately.
- Be cautious about what you share on social media — your birthdate, address, and phone number can all be used to impersonate you.
- If in doubt about a website requesting your information, close it and navigate directly to the organisation's official site using a search engine instead.
Passwords: Your First Line of Defence
A weak password is like a lock you can open with a paperclip. Strong passwords are long (at least 12 characters), varied (combining letters, numbers, and symbols), and unique to each account. Yes, that means using a different password for every account you create.
This sounds difficult to manage — and it can be, without help. Many people use a password manager, which is a secure application that stores all your passwords in one encrypted vault. You only need to remember one master password. Popular, reputable options include Bitwarden (free) and 1Password.
You should also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it's offered. This is a second step in your login process — typically a code sent to your phone — that makes it much harder for someone to access your account even if they have your password.
Managing Your Time Online Safely
Alongside security threats, it's worth thinking about how you use your time online. The internet is designed to keep you engaged — news sites, social media, and video platforms all use techniques that can make it easy to spend far more time online than you intended.
A few practical suggestions:
- Set a rough time limit for browsing sessions — an alarm on your phone can help.
- Be mindful of news that provokes strong emotions. Not everything you read online is accurate, and engaging with highly upsetting content can affect your mood and wellbeing.
- Take regular breaks — the 20-20-20 rule is helpful: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
- If you find you're regularly upset or anxious after going online, consider which sites or activities are contributing to that and reduce your time on them.
What to Do If Something Goes Wrong
If you believe you've been targeted by a scam — even if you didn't give out any information — here's what to do:
First, don't panic. Scammers want you to act impulsively. Take a breath and think calmly. If you clicked a link, close your browser and run a security scan on your device. If you provided personal information, contact the relevant organisation immediately — your bank, the CRA, or the organisation whose name was used.
You can report suspected scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501 or via their online reporting tool at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. Reporting scams helps protect other Canadians.
If you're concerned your device has been compromised, contact a trusted local computer professional or a family member who can help. Don't call any phone number provided in a suspicious message.
A Final Word
The internet is worth learning to use well. It connects you with family, gives you access to the news and culture you care about, and opens doors to learning and community. The risks are real, but they are manageable — especially when you're equipped with accurate information and healthy habits.
The goal isn't to make you afraid of going online. It's to make sure that when you do, you feel capable, informed, and in control. That's what Vylorix is here to help you achieve.