Interac e-Transfer Scams in Canada: How to Spot Fake Payments and Protect Yourself

Interac e-Transfer is one of the most popular ways Canadians send money to each other, processing hundreds of millions of transactions annually. (If you are wondering how much you can send, see our complete guide to e-Transfer limits by bank.) That kind of volume makes it a prime target for scammers.

If you are a small business owner who gets paid by e-Transfer, you need to know how to tell a real payment from a fake one. A single mistake can cost you thousands of dollars or give a fraudster access to your bank account. And once your income approaches the $30,000 GST/HST threshold, the stakes get even higher.

Here is a breakdown of the most common Interac e-Transfer scams in Canada, how they work, and how to protect yourself.

How Interac e-Transfer Scams Work

Most Interac scams follow one of two patterns:

1. Phishing: You receive a fake email or text that looks like an Interac notification. It includes a link that takes you to a site designed to steal your banking credentials.
2. Social engineering: A scammer manipulates you into sending real money. They might pose as a buyer, a seller, or even a government agency. By the time you realize something is wrong, the money is gone.

In both cases, the scammer is counting on the fact that e-Transfers feel instant and familiar. You have probably accepted hundreds of them without thinking twice. That is exactly what they are exploiting.

Fake Payment Notification Emails

This is the most common Interac scam. You receive an email that looks exactly like a real Interac e-Transfer notification. It says someone has sent you money and includes a link to deposit it.

The link takes you to a page that looks like your bank's login screen. When you enter your credentials, the scammer captures them and uses them to access your real bank account.

What the fake email looks like

Modern phishing emails are disturbingly convincing. They copy Interac's branding, colours, and layout almost perfectly. But there are often telltale signs to watch for:

• The sender address is not notify@payments.interac.ca. It might be something like notify@payments-interac.com or interac-notify@gmail.com.
• The email asks you to click a link and enter your banking credentials. Real Interac emails link to your bank's website, but if you have Autodeposit enabled, you should not need to click anything at all.
• Small formatting errors: unusual spacing, incorrect currency formatting (like "$200,00" instead of "$200.00"), or references to "CAD" where a real notification would not include them.
• A sense of urgency, like "deposit within 24 hours or the transfer will expire."

Facebook Marketplace Interac Scams

Police across Canada have flagged Facebook Marketplace e-Transfer fraud as one of the fastest-growing scams in the country. It targets both buyers and sellers, and it is surprisingly effective.

The seller scam (targeting buyers)

A scammer posts an item for sale, usually something in demand and priced attractively. They ask for payment by e-Transfer before you can pick up the item. Once you send the money, they disappear. The item never existed, or they never intended to hand it over.

The buyer scam (targeting sellers)

This version is more dangerous. Here is how it works:

1. A "buyer" contacts you about an item you are selling. They seem eager and offer to send an e-Transfer right away.
2. You receive an email that looks like an Interac e-Transfer notification.
3. You click the deposit link. It takes you to a page that looks exactly like your bank's login screen.
4. You enter your banking credentials. The page shows a loading spinner.
5. On the other end, a real person is using your credentials to log into your bank account in real time.

As Ottawa Police Detective Shaun Wahbeh described it: "It looks and smells exactly like an e-Transfer, but it is not. It is a request that gives the suspect access to your bank account."

How to stay safe on Marketplace

• Meet in person and confirm payment has arrived in your actual bank account before handing over the item.
• Never click deposit links from emails. Open your banking app directly to check if the money is there.
• Be suspicious of buyers who are in a rush, overly agreeable, or unwilling to meet in person.
• Use Interac Autodeposit so payments go straight into your account without any link clicking required.

CRA Impersonation Scams

You receive a text message or email claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. It says the CRA is sending you a refund, a benefit payment, or a tax credit by Interac e-Transfer. All you need to do is click the link to deposit it.

The message might include the Government of Canada logo, a convincing reference number, and even an amount that seems plausible during tax season.

The reality: the CRA does not use Interac e-Transfer. Period.

The Canada Revenue Agency sends payments exclusively by cheque or direct deposit. They will never send you money by e-Transfer, and they will never ask you to click a link in a text message to receive funds.

If you receive a message like this, it is a scam. Do not click the link. Do not reply. Forward it to phishing@interac.ca and report it to the CRA's scam reporting page.

Overpayment and Refund Scams

This scam is especially common for small business owners and freelancers. A client or buyer sends you more money than they owe, then asks you to send back the difference.

For example:

• You invoice a client for $1,500. They "accidentally" send you $3,000.
• They ask you to e-Transfer the extra $1,500 back.
• You send the money. Days later, the original $3,000 is clawed back by the sender's bank because it was made from a compromised account.
• You are out $1,500.

The same pattern shows up with people who send you an unexpected e-Transfer and then contact you saying it was a mistake, asking you to send it back. If you did not expect the payment, do not send money back. Contact your bank and let them handle the reversal through proper channels.

Gigadat and Payment Processor Scams

Gigadat is a legitimate Canadian payment processor that facilitates Interac e-Transfers on behalf of online merchants, including online gaming and casino sites. If you see an e-Transfer from Gigadat that you did not initiate, something has gone wrong.

Common scenarios:

• Unauthorized transaction: Someone may have used your banking information to make a deposit on a gambling site through Gigadat. Contact your bank immediately.
• Refund scam: You receive an unexpected Gigadat transfer and then get a message asking you to "return" the funds. Do not send money back. Let your bank investigate.
• Phishing: A fake email claims to be from Gigadat and asks you to verify your banking details. Gigadat does not have access to your bank account directly and would not contact you this way.

If you see a Gigadat transaction you do not recognize, contact your bank first, then file a complaint with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

How to Spot a Fake Interac e-Transfer

Here is a quick checklist you can use every time you receive an e-Transfer notification:

The single most reliable check: open your banking app or online banking directly. If you have Autodeposit enabled, a real e-Transfer will appear in your account. If not, check for pending transfers. Either way, do not click any link in the email itself.

What to Do If You Have Been Scammed

If you think you have fallen for an Interac e-Transfer scam, act fast:

1. Contact your bank immediately. Call the fraud department (the number on the back of your debit card). Ask them to secure your account and investigate any unauthorized transactions. The faster you act, the better your chances of limiting the damage.
2. Change your passwords. If you entered your banking login on a fake site, change your password immediately. Also change it on any other accounts where you use the same password.
3. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Call 1-888-495-8501 or file a report online at antifraudcentre.ca. This helps law enforcement track and investigate fraud patterns.
4. Forward the scam message to Interac. Send the suspicious email or screenshot to phishing@interac.ca so they can take action against the phishing infrastructure.
5. File a police report. Contact your local police. While individual cases can be hard to investigate, the report creates a record that supports broader fraud investigations.
6. Monitor your accounts. Watch your bank statements closely for the next several months. Scammers who have your credentials may attempt additional transactions later.

How to Protect Yourself

Enable Interac Autodeposit

This is one of the most effective steps you can take. When Autodeposit is enabled, incoming e-Transfers go directly into your bank account without any action from you. There is no link to click and no security question to answer, which significantly reduces your exposure to deposit-link phishing. Most major Canadian banks support it.

Never click deposit links in emails

Even if you do not have Autodeposit, get in the habit of going directly to your bank's website or app to check for pending transfers. Type the URL yourself or use your banking app. Never follow a link from an email or text message.

Verify before you ship or hand over goods

If you are selling something, confirm the money is actually in your account before releasing the item. Check your banking app, not just the email notification. A scammer will pressure you to hand over the goods quickly.

Be skeptical of overpayments

If someone sends you more than they owe, do not send the difference back by e-Transfer. Contact your bank and let them handle it. Legitimate overpayments can be reversed through the banking system.

Keep your banking app up to date

Banks regularly update their apps with improved security features. Keeping your app current helps you stay protected with the latest fraud detection measures.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if an Interac e-Transfer is real?

A real Interac e-Transfer notification comes from notify@payments.interac.ca. It will never ask you to enter your banking login through an email link. If you have Autodeposit enabled, the money goes straight into your account with no action required. When in doubt, log into your bank directly by typing the URL into your browser rather than clicking any link.

Does the CRA send money by Interac e-Transfer?

No. The Canada Revenue Agency does not use Interac e-Transfer to send or receive payments. Any text message or email claiming to be a CRA e-Transfer is a scam. The CRA sends payments by cheque or direct deposit only.

Can you get scammed receiving an Interac e-Transfer?

Yes, in two ways. First, scammers send fake notification emails that link to phishing sites designed to steal your banking credentials. Second, they can send real e-Transfers using stolen funds and then ask you to send money back. In both cases, always verify that money has actually appeared in your bank account before taking any action.

What should I do if I clicked a fake Interac e-Transfer link?

If you entered your banking credentials on a fake site, contact your bank immediately to freeze your account and change your passwords. File a report with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre.ca. Forward the scam email to phishing@interac.ca and report it to your local police.

What is a Gigadat Interac e-Transfer?

Gigadat is a legitimate Canadian payment processor that facilitates Interac e-Transfers for online merchants, including gaming and casino sites. If you see an unexpected Gigadat transaction, it may be unauthorized. Contact your bank immediately and do not interact with any follow-up messages asking you to return funds.

Qu'est-ce qu'une arnaque de virement Interac?

Une arnaque de virement Interac est une fraude dans laquelle un escroc envoie un faux courriel ou message texte imitant une notification de virement Interac. Le lien vous dirige vers un faux site bancaire pour voler vos identifiants. Si vous recevez un message suspect, ne cliquez sur aucun lien. Connectez-vous directement à votre application bancaire pour vérifier si un virement est en attente.

Can an Interac e-Transfer be reversed after a scam?

It depends on how quickly you act. If you contact your bank before the scammer has moved the money, there is a chance the transfer can be reversed. Once the money has been withdrawn from the recipient's account, recovery becomes much harder. This is why speed matters: call your bank's fraud department the moment you suspect something is wrong.

The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. While we strive to keep this content accurate and up to date, we make no guarantees about its completeness or reliability. Always consult your bank, a qualified professional, or the relevant authority for advice specific to your situation. Last updated March 2026.