The HM Cyber Blog

AI has eliminated the typos and awkward phrasing that used to signal a fake email. Here's what to look for now — and the one response that protects you every time.

AI can clone a voice from 30 seconds of audio. Here's what the grandchild emergency scam sounds like — and the one thing that stops it cold.

Business Email Compromise costs Canadian organizations millions annually. Here's how it works, why it succeeds, and the two process changes that stop most of it.

The full-screen browser alert claiming your computer is infected is fake — no website can actually scan your device. Here's exactly what to do when it appears.

Scammers can make any phone number appear on your caller ID — including your bank's. Here's what caller ID spoofing is and what to do when a call feels wrong.

Before sending money to any investment platform, you can check its registration in Canada in under two minutes. Here's exactly how to do it and what the results mean.

The Canada Revenue Agency does not call to threaten arrest or demand gift cards. Here's what CRA actually does — and what to do if you get one of these calls.

Scammers now appear on video as fake CRA agents and RCMP officers. Here's what a deepfake video call looks like — and the visual tells that give it away.

Scammers keep Canadians on video calls for hours with fake badges and arrest threats. Here's exactly how digital arrest scams work — and why you can hang up.

Free Discord Nitro offers are one of the most common scams targeting teens. Here's what the message looks like, why it's convincing, and how to inoculate your child.

Being defrauded carries a real emotional toll — and the people around survivors often don't know what to say. This guide is for the people who love someone who went through it.

Annual compliance modules don't stop fraud. Here's what HR and compliance professionals at Canadian institutions need to know about training that actually changes behaviour.

Fake investment platforms show you growing balances that don't exist. Here's how they're built, why early withdrawals work, and how to spot the signs before it's too late.

Fake and redirected invoices are costing Canadian businesses millions. Here's how the scam works, how to spot it, and the one process change that stops most of it.

A call says your electricity or gas will be cut off unless you pay immediately by gift card or e-Transfer. Real utilities don't work this way. Here's the full picture.

If you've just sent money to a scammer, fast action can make a real difference. Here's exactly what to do in the next 60 minutes, in the right order.

A credit freeze can stop a fraudster from opening new accounts in your name. Here's how it works in Canada and exactly how to put one in place.

No legitimate organization in Canada collects payment by gift card — not the CRA, not your bank, not the RCMP. Here's why scammers use them and what to do instead.

A caller says your grandchild has been arrested and needs bail money urgently. This scam has cost Canadians significant losses. Here's the script and the one thing to do.

Any device connected to your WiFi can potentially see other devices on the network. Here's how to check who's on yours — and what to do if something looks off.

Reporting a scam — even one you caught in time — helps protect other Canadians. Here's exactly how to do it and where your report actually goes.

Teens are targeted by job scams specifically because they're job-seeking and new to how employment works. Here are the three most common versions and how to spot them.

The call claiming your Windows license expired or your iCloud was compromised is a scam — full stop. Here's why these companies never call users, and what to do.

A concise overview of the top four fraud types by Canadian loss volume in 2024, with practical framing for what financial institutions and schools can do about each.

Not all parental controls are created equal. Here's an honest look at what works, what doesn't, and the tool most families overlook entirely.

Pig butchering is a relationship-based investment scam costing Canadians millions. Here's what the term means and why it works on careful, smart people.

A private profile picture isn't the same as a private account. Here's what public and private really mean on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat — and how to decide together.

A caller claims to be RCMP or border services and says there's a warrant for your arrest. Real law enforcement doesn't work this way. Here's what you need to know.

After being defrauded, some people get calls from 'recovery agencies' promising to retrieve lost money — for a fee. This is a second scam. Here's how to recognise it.

Remote access software lets scammers see and control your entire computer. Here's what they do once they're in — and the one rule that keeps you safe.

Someone is offering your child free Robux or V-Bucks. Here's exactly how the scam works, why kids fall for it, and the one sentence that protects them.

Most home routers still use the factory default admin password. Here's what that means, why it matters, and exactly how to change it today.

Sextortion targets young people online through fake relationships. Here's how to open the conversation with your child before it happens — without shame or fear.

A caller says your Social Insurance Number has been suspended due to suspicious activity. This is a scam. Your SIN cannot be suspended by phone. Here's the full story.

Smart TVs run real software that gets updated far less often than your phone. Here's what that means for your home network — and what's worth doing about it.

Tech support scams follow a predictable script. Here's every step — from the professional greeting to the gift card demand — so you can recognize it if it's happening.

The way you approach the conversation matters more than the conversation itself. Here's how to ask about online life in a way that keeps the door open.

A practical guide for bank tellers and branch staff on recognizing scam-motivated wire transfers and how to raise concerns without making customers feel accused.

Threatening messages online are frightening for kids — and parents. Here's how to respond calmly, what to keep, and when and how to report it in Canada.

Investment scams rarely start with a pitch. They start with a friendship. Here's the timeline — week by week — so you can recognize it while it's happening.

Three practical phone settings — location, DMs, and profile visibility — that are worth a ten-minute check. This isn't about surveillance. It's about unnecessary exposure.

If an investment platform won't release your funds without a fee or 'account upgrade,' that's not a technical requirement. That's the scam's final move. Here's what to do.

VPNs are everywhere in ads, but most families don't know what they actually do. Here's the plain-language answer — and an honest take on whether you need one.