Equifax Canada survey highlights gaps in passwords, multi-factor authentication and responses to data breaches as Canadians encounter widespread online fraud.
Canadian Farmers Face Growing Risk as Online Scams Become Harder to Spot
New survey finds 65 per cent of Canadians encountered fraudulent messages or online content in the past year, highlighting the importance of strong cybersecurity habits for farms and rural businesses
For Canadian farmers, an unexpected text from a bank, an unusual account notification or a convincing email can be more than an inconvenience. It can potentially open the door to fraud.
A new Equifax Canada survey suggests Canadians are highly confident in their ability to recognize scams, but their cybersecurity habits do not always match that confidence.
The survey found 83 per cent of Canadians believe they can distinguish legitimate communications from scams. However, only 22 per cent describe themselves as "very confident," while another 61 per cent say they are "somewhat confident."
At the same time, 65 per cent of respondents said they had encountered at least one type of fraudulent message or online content during the previous 12 months.
For farmers and agribusinesses increasingly conducting business digitally, the findings provide a timely reminder that recognizing a suspicious message is only one part of protecting financial and personal information.
Bank and government impersonation scams are common
Some of the most frequently reported scams involve organizations Canadians routinely deal with.
According to the survey, 37 per cent of respondents encountered fraudulent emails or text messages impersonating Canadian banks or government agencies. Another 36 per cent received fake notifications claiming someone had accessed, or attempted to access, their banking or social media accounts.
Fraudulent investment opportunities were encountered by 26 per cent of respondents, while another 26 per cent reported fake social media messages or videos impersonating trusted brands or public figures.
Sixteen per cent encountered fraudulent job offers.
The prevalence of bank and government impersonation attempts may be particularly relevant for farm families and agricultural businesses that routinely communicate electronically with financial institutions, government programs, farm and other organizations.
Password habits create another vulnerability
The survey also identified gaps in some Canadians' account-security practices.
Only 58 per cent of respondents said they use multi-factor authentication on many of their financial and social media accounts, while 50 per cent use unique passwords for important accounts.
Meanwhile, 22 per cent acknowledged reusing the same two or three passwords across multiple accounts.
Password reuse can magnify the consequences of a data breach. If credentials from one service become compromised, criminals may attempt to use the same information to gain access to other accounts.
Octavia Howell, Chief Information Security Officer at Equifax Canada, said awareness by itself is not sufficient protection as fraudulent communications become more difficult to recognize.
Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and understanding what to do following a security incident remain important components of protecting personal information, according to Equifax.
Some Canadians would wait after a data breach
The survey also identified differences in how Canadians would respond if informed that their personal information had been compromised.
Nationally, 14 per cent said they would wait to take action unless they noticed suspicious activity.
That figure rose to 20 per cent among respondents aged 18 to 34, compared with 11 per cent among Canadians aged 55 and older.
Two-thirds of respondents, 66 per cent, said they would contact their bank or financial institution after receiving a breach notification. However, only 44 per cent said they would immediately change the password associated with the affected account.
Just 24 per cent said they would contact a credit bureau to place a fraud alert.
For farm businesses, where personal and business finances can intersect, responding promptly to a legitimate breach notification may help limit potential exposure.
Practical cybersecurity habits matter
Equifax Canada recommends that consumers regularly review their credit reports, use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication, and independently verify unexpected communications before providing personal or financial information.
The last point can be particularly useful when a message appears urgent.
Rather than relying on a telephone number or link included in an unexpected message, independently confirming the communication through a trusted channel can provide an additional layer of protection.
The survey results suggest confidence alone should not be treated as a cybersecurity strategy. As financial services and everyday business communications continue to operate online, consistent security habits remain an important defence against fraud.
For Canadian farm families and agricultural businesses, that means exercising the same caution around digital information that they apply to other valuable farm assets.
The Equifax Canada Cybersecurity and Financial Literacy Omnibus survey was conducted by Leger through its LEO online panel among 1,525 Canadian adults aged 18 and older between October 9 and 11, 2026.
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