PAUSE OR PROCEED?

10 real scam examples, styled the way they might actually reach you, by text, phone call, email, or DM.

Scam or legit? You decide.

CLICK NEXT TO START THE QUIZ ↓

Question Title

1.

You receive a text message:

"CRA: You are eligible for a $498 tax refund. Claim now before it expires: cra-refund-ca.net/claim"

True or False: because it mentions the CRA by name and a specific dollar amount, this text is safe to click.

True

False

Question Title

2.

You receive a phone call with a distressed voice that sounds exactly like one of your kids:

"Mom, I'm in trouble, I was in an accident and I need bail money right now, please don't tell Dad, I'll explain later."

What do you do?

Send an e-transfer right away because they said not to tell anyone, and it sounds exactly like them

Ask them a question only they'd know, then send money if they get it right

Hang up and call that family member directly on a number you already have, before doing anything

Text back asking "is this really you?"

Question Title

3.
You get a DM from someone you matched with on a dating app after two weeks of chatting every day:

"I want to show you something, a crypto platform I've been using that's made me a lot of money. I can show you how it works if you're interested."

Which of these are red flags here?
Select all that apply.

A new online relationship steering the conversation toward investing

They want to show you a specific platform they personally use

They're emphasizing how much money they've made

The conversation happens over DM instead of text message

Question Title

4.

You receive a text message:

"Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update your info within 24 hours: canadapost-redelivery.info"

True or False: because you're expecting a package, it's reasonable to click this link and update your address.

True

False

Question Title

5.

A pop-up appears while browsing online:

"WARNING: Your computer has a virus. Call Microsoft Support now: 1-800-XXX-XXXX. Do not close this window."

What's the safest move?

Call the number to find out what's wrong

Click "Remove virus now" since the pop-up is already open

Close the browser (or restart the computer if it won't close), and don't call the number

Wait a few minutes to see if it goes away on its own

Question Title

6.

You receive a direct message on Facebook:

"Remote data entry, $35/hour, flexible hours. To get started, we'll mail you a company laptop, just e-transfer $300 for 'equipment insurance' first, fully refundable."

What's the red flag?

The pay rate seems generous for the work

Being asked to pay an "equipment" fee before you've even started working

It arrived as a DM instead of a job-site application

A laptop is being mailed to you at all

Question Title

7.

You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank's fraud department:

"We've flagged suspicious activity on your account. To secure it, I need you to confirm your online banking password and the verification code we just texted you."

What do you do?

Confirm the password, but not the code

Confirm both, they already knew your account was flagged

Hang up and call your bank directly using the number on your card or its official website.

Ask them for their employee ID number first

Question Title

8.

You receive an email:

"Congratulations! You've been selected to receive a $1,000 gift card. Claim your prize by entering your name, address, and credit card details for verification (no charge)."

Scam or legit?

Scam

Legit

Question Title

9.

You receive a call from someone who says they're a recovery specialist:

"I saw you lost money to a scam last year; I work with a task force that can help recover your funds. There's a small upfront fee to begin the recovery process."

What's the giveaway that this is a scam?

They mention working with a "task force"

Asking for an upfront fee to "recover" money you already lost

They called instead of emailing

They know you were scammed before

Question Title

10. You've made it to the final question!

You've seen real scam patterns targeting Canadians. Now, put P.A.U.S.E. into practice. Match each letter to its correct cybersecurity action.

P - Pause before clicking

P - Post about it

A - Answer right away

A - Ask yourself if this was expected

U - URL check

U - Unsubscribe from spam

S - Save the message

S - Share with care

E - Escalate if it feels off

E - Erase the email immediately

PAUSE OR PROCEED?

Question Title

1. You receive a text message:"CRA: You are eligible for a $498 tax refund. Claim now before it expires: cra-refund-ca.net/claim"True or False: because it mentions the CRA by name and a specific dollar amount, this text is safe to click.

Question Title

2. You receive a phone call with a distressed voice that sounds exactly like one of your kids: "Mom, I'm in trouble, I was in an accident and I need bail money right now, please don't tell Dad, I'll explain later."What do you do?

Question Title

Question Title

4. You receive a text message: "Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update your info within 24 hours: canadapost-redelivery.info"True or False: because you're expecting a package, it's reasonable to click this link and update your address.

Question Title

5. A pop-up appears while browsing online: "WARNING: Your computer has a virus. Call Microsoft Support now: 1-800-XXX-XXXX. Do not close this window."What's the safest move?

Question Title

6. You receive a direct message on Facebook: "Remote data entry, $35/hour, flexible hours. To get started, we'll mail you a company laptop, just e-transfer $300 for 'equipment insurance' first, fully refundable."What's the red flag?

Question Title

7. You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank's fraud department: "We've flagged suspicious activity on your account. To secure it, I need you to confirm your online banking password and the verification code we just texted you."What do you do?

Question Title

8. You receive an email: "Congratulations! You've been selected to receive a $1,000 gift card. Claim your prize by entering your name, address, and credit card details for verification (no charge)."Scam or legit?

Question Title

9. You receive a call from someone who says they're a recovery specialist: "I saw you lost money to a scam last year; I work with a task force that can help recover your funds. There's a small upfront fee to begin the recovery process."What's the giveaway that this is a scam?

Question Title

10. You've made it to the final question! You've seen real scam patterns targeting Canadians. Now, put P.A.U.S.E. into practice. Match each letter to its correct cybersecurity action.

1.

You receive a text message:

"CRA: You are eligible for a $498 tax refund. Claim now before it expires: cra-refund-ca.net/claim"

True or False: because it mentions the CRA by name and a specific dollar amount, this text is safe to click.

2.

You receive a phone call with a distressed voice that sounds exactly like one of your kids:

"Mom, I'm in trouble, I was in an accident and I need bail money right now, please don't tell Dad, I'll explain later."

What do you do?

4.

You receive a text message:

"Your package could not be delivered due to an incomplete address. Update your info within 24 hours: canadapost-redelivery.info"

True or False: because you're expecting a package, it's reasonable to click this link and update your address.

5.

A pop-up appears while browsing online:

"WARNING: Your computer has a virus. Call Microsoft Support now: 1-800-XXX-XXXX. Do not close this window."

What's the safest move?

6.

You receive a direct message on Facebook:

"Remote data entry, $35/hour, flexible hours. To get started, we'll mail you a company laptop, just e-transfer $300 for 'equipment insurance' first, fully refundable."

What's the red flag?

7.

You receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank's fraud department:

"We've flagged suspicious activity on your account. To secure it, I need you to confirm your online banking password and the verification code we just texted you."

What do you do?

8.

You receive an email:

"Congratulations! You've been selected to receive a $1,000 gift card. Claim your prize by entering your name, address, and credit card details for verification (no charge)."

Scam or legit?

9.

You receive a call from someone who says they're a recovery specialist:

"I saw you lost money to a scam last year; I work with a task force that can help recover your funds. There's a small upfront fee to begin the recovery process."

What's the giveaway that this is a scam?

10. You've made it to the final question!

You've seen real scam patterns targeting Canadians. Now, put P.A.U.S.E. into practice. Match each letter to its correct cybersecurity action.