Interac e-Transfer scams: how to spot the fakes
That "you've received an e-Transfer" text might not be from Interac at all. Here is how the scams work - and what to do if money has already left your account.
Why e-Transfer scams work so well
Interac e-Transfer is fast, familiar, and connected straight to your bank account - which is exactly why scammers imitate it. A fake "you've received money" notification feels like good news, and good news lowers your guard. And once a real transfer has been deposited, it is very hard to get back. Scammers exploit both sides.
The fake "you received money" message
The most common trick is a text or email dressed up as an Interac notification: someone has sent you money, click here to deposit it. The link leads to a convincing copy of the Interac deposit page or your bank's login screen. Enter your card number and password there and you have handed a scammer the keys to your real account.
Signs it's fake:
- You weren't expecting money. A surprise transfer from a stranger, a utility, or a government agency is the setup, not a windfall.
- The sender is off. Real Interac notification emails come from an
interac.caaddress. A text from a random number, or an email from a look-alike domain, is a fake. - The link doesn't go to your bank or Interac. Press and hold (don't tap) to preview it, or check it with the Link Checker.
Common variations
- "Your deposit failed - click to retry." Same trap, different costume.
- A refund you "forgot" to claim from a government agency, a telecom, or a utility. Real refunds don't arrive as surprise e-Transfer texts.
- Marketplace buyers who "pay" with a fake e-Transfer confirmation email or screenshot and pressure you to ship. Money is only real when it's in your account.
Auto-deposit: free protection, two ways
Turn on auto-deposit in your banking app and incoming e-Transfers go straight into your account - no link to click, no security question to answer. That protects you twice. Real transfers can't be intercepted by someone who guesses a weak security question. And any "click to deposit" message you receive afterwards is instantly exposed as a fake, because your real transfers never need a click.
If you send a transfer to someone without auto-deposit, choose a security question a stranger can't guess or find on social media - and never send the answer in the same conversation.
What to do with a suspicious e-Transfer notification
- Don't click the link. If someone really sent you money, it will show up in your bank's own app or website. Check there.
- Inspect the sender and the link. Real notifications come from
interac.ca; anything else - random numbers, look-alike domains, shortened links - is a red flag. - Get a second opinion. Paste the message into our Scam Text Checker - it flags the warning signs for you.
- Report it and delete it. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), report scam emails as phishing in your mail app, then delete.
- If you clicked or paid, act immediately. See below.
If you already sent money or entered your banking details
- Call your bank right away - the number on the back of your card. If the transfer hasn't been deposited yet, it may still be possible to cancel it. If you typed your banking password on a fake page, say so: they can lock the account and help you change your credentials.
- Change your banking password from the real app or site, and turn on every extra security option your bank offers.
- Report the fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or through its website, and to your local police. Reports help shut these campaigns down.
- Don't blame yourself. These messages are mass-produced precisely because they fool careful people every day.
Check before you tap
If an e-Transfer text or email feels even slightly off, take thirty seconds before acting: paste it into the Scam Text Checker, which looks for fake-Interac patterns, suspicious links, and pressure tactics - and gives you a plain-language verdict.