June 24,2025
RED FM News Desk
Ruth Jean from London, Ontario, recently tried to open a business account with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). In March, she performed a quick Google search and clicked on the top result, which appeared to be the official CRA website. The site looked legitimate, so she proceeded to enter her Social Insurance Number and other personal details. It then asked for her banking information, including her card number, ATM PIN, and card expiration date.
After submitting the information, the screen went black. That’s when Jean realized she had been on a fake website designed to look like the CRA’s. Scammers had used the information to access her bank account and withdraw $26,820.
Cybersecurity expert Ritesh Kotak warns users to verify they’re on the correct website before entering any financial details. He recommends looking for a padlock icon in the browser, which indicates the site has a security certificate and encrypts user data. He also suggests installing third-party tools that can help detect fraudulent websites.
Google reports it is actively fighting online fraud. In 2024, the company blocked over 9.1 billion ads, suspended more than 39.2 million advertiser accounts for serious policy violations, and took down over 5.1 billion ads for breaking its rules.
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