BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
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The Conexus Credit Union is highlighting cybercrime during Cyber Security Awareness Month. Conexus Chief Risk and Compliance Officer Mark Millham say that only between five and 10 percent of scams are ever reported, and he encourages people to brush up on their cybersecurity practices. Some practices include the three R’s: recognizing, rejecting, and reporting; setting up strong passwords; setting up alerts with financial institutions; and being hypervigilant.
Three of the most common cyber scams right now are investor scams, which promise high returns that seem too good to be true; overpayment scams, where a fraudster buys an advertised item, claims they sent too much money by accident and asks the seller to refund the difference; and verification code scams, where the victim gets sent a one-time verification code they didn’t request. Once a scammer has access to the code, they can take control of that person’s account.
“Unfortunately, scammers target and defraud every age group in our province. It is a misconception that scammers only defraud the senior citizen generation,” Millham added.
When scammers obtain login credentials, credit card details, and other personal information, they can use this information to steal money, commit fraud, or sell it on cybercrime marketplaces. Cyber threat actors also target point-of-sale (POS) systems used by businesses by installing malware that can steal customer information, interfere with business operations, make fraudulent purchases, manipulate pricing, and cause other forms of disruption.
Cyber threat actors associate their cyber fraud operations with current events. Elections, tax season, and trending news stories, including tragedies where false GoFundMe campaigns have been set up, have all been used as a backdrop for cybercrime.
The 2026 theme for Cyber Security Awareness Month 2026 is “Your best defence is you.” Artificial intelligence is changing the way cybercriminals operate, making some scams and online threats more convincing than ever, says the Government of Canada’s Communications Security Establishment. The technology behind these threats may be evolving, but one thing remains the same: individuals’ awareness, judgement and everyday cybersecurity habits. These individual actions are among the strongest defences.
According to the 2026 Get Cyber Safe Awareness Tracking Survey, 59 percent of Canadians reported experiencing at least one type of cyber incident in the last year, 73 percent of Canadians are concerned about AI-related cybercrime, and 42 percent of Canadians feel confident they can recognize AI-generated content.
Canadians share substantial amounts of personal information online, often without realizing it. They rely on Internet-connected devices for communication, finances, entertainment, comfort, and safety. However, as more personal data is stored online, it becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber threat actors. Major corporate data breaches can expose millions of customers’ personal details, enabling further criminal activities. These actors may steal financial, medical, and other sensitive information to sell on the dark web or use in various cybercrimes.
The number of endpoints connected to the Internet increases significantly every year, driven by increased deployment of the “Internet of Things” (IoT). IoT devices, also known as “smart objects”, can range from simple “smart home” devices like smart thermostats to wearables like smartwatches and RFID-enabled clothing to complex industrial machinery and transportation systems. IoT enables these smart devices to communicate with each other and with other internet-enabled devices. Like smartphones and gateways, they create a vast network of interconnected devices that can exchange data and perform various tasks autonomously.
As IoT devices become more widespread, security and privacy become increasingly important. Many IoT devices are vulnerable to hackers and other cyber threats, which can compromise the security and privacy of sensitive data.
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