Staying Safe Online in Canada
A Student’s Guide
A quick guide to help you stay safe online, avoid common scams, and protect your personal information while you study in Canada.
The Catalyst developed these resources in partnership with Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and Rogers to keep newcomers safe online
Digital safety starts here
This guide is for newcomer students in secondary or post-secondary institutions in Canada. If you’ve already read our Online Safety Guide for Newcomers, you’re off to a great start — this resource builds on that foundation. As a student, you may rely on the internet to:
- Access your school accounts
- Conduct research
- Submit assignments
- Communicate with peers and instructors
- Stream content or use social media
- Search for work or volunteer opportunities
While the internet is an essential tool, it also comes with risks — especially for newcomer students who may be targeted by cybercriminals.
This guide offers specific tips to help you understand what’s at risk, what to watch out for, how to protect yourself, and what to do if something goes wrong.
For newcomer students to Canada, this guide provides practical advice to help you:
Learn the online risks you may face.
Spot scams, fake messages, and suspicious activity.
Keep personal and academic information secure.
Report issues and update your security settings.
Understanding the risks
Connecting to the internet is part of your everyday academic life — from using school platforms and research tools to messaging and online collaboration. But each interaction online carries some level of risk.
What are your online risks?
Whenever someone connects to the internet — especially when communicating with people they don’t know — there is a risk of encountering scams or deception. Cybercriminals often pretend to be family members, government officials, or trusted professionals in order to gain trust.
Be aware of online risks
As a student, you’re more exposed to online risks because of how often you engage with technology.
Cybercriminals often impersonate school staff, classmates, or official organizations to:
- Steal personal or academic information
- Gain access to student accounts
- Trick you into paying money or revealing data
Protect your personal information
Even though your institution protects your data, you still need to be cautious about sharing the following:
- Student number
- Tuition payment or loan information
- Transcripts and grades
- Academic guidance records
- Login credentials for student portals
Educational institutions are common targets for cyberattacks — don’t let cybercriminals use your access as their entry point.
How to recognize & verify online risks
How to recognize suspicious behaviour:
Cybercriminals often use social engineering (manipulation techniques) to deceive students. Common scams include:
- Promises of “better grades”
- Fake tuition discounts
- Offers for free essays or homework help
- Romance or dating scams
- Low-cost international calling plans
Watch out for these digital threats:
Also beware of:
- Phishing: Fake emails or links that try to steal your information
- Smishing: Similar to phishing, but sent by text message. These may claim there’s an urgent issue with your account or offer a fake reward
- Vishing: Phone scams that ask for personal details
Examples of common online activities
School Communication
Likely safe:
- Messages from verified school email addresses
- Logins through official school portals
Likely unsafe:
- Emails or messages requesting login details
- Fake login pages or suspicious scholarship offers
Finances and Tuition
Likely safe:
- Paying tuition through your school’s official platform
- Talking to financial aid through authorized channels
Likely unsafe:
- Unsolicited tuition help offers or fake subsidies
- Requests for bank information or wire transfers via text or social media
Social Media and Messaging
Likely safe:
- Connecting with classmates through verified student groups
- Sharing general updates in closed school communities
Likely unsafe:
- Strangers offering jobs, romance, or urgent help
- Requests for personal info, gift cards, or money
Online Tools and Resources
Likely safe:
- Downloading tools or apps from your school’s site or trusted stores
- Using your institution’s academic databases
Likely unsafe:
- Free paper download sites
- Links to “homework help” or “exam answers” from unknown sources
Part-Time Jobs
Likely safe:
- Applying for jobs using your school’s job website or career centre
- Always check if the company is real before talking to them or going to an interview
Likely unsafe:
- Getting job offers you didn’t ask for (like in emails or social media)
- Being asked to send money or share your bank info to get a job
How can you be safer online?
- Use strong passwords or passphrases
- Enable multi-factor authentication (a secondary device, code, or biometric). This adds an extra layer of protection by asking for a second form of ID, like a code sent to your phone, after entering your password
- Review your social media privacy settings
- Sign up with your bank to receive fraud alerts about suspicious activity
- Secure your home Wi-Fi by changing the default password to a strong password
- Turn off Bluetooth when not in use, especially in public places
- If you need to use public Wi-Fi, do so through a virtual private network (VPN) to keep your data private
- Don’t share student IDs, funding details, or personal documents with unknown sources
- Be cautious about people you meet online — if you consider meeting in person:
- Bring someone you trust
- Meet in a public place
When in doubt, pause and verify before clicking, sharing, or replying.
Take action
What to do if you think you’re a victim
Thousands of students have been targeted online. If it happens to you, remember — you’re not alone, and help is available.
If it involves your school, report it to school staff or campus security immediately. This protects you and helps prevent others from falling victim.
Then take these steps:
1
Contact your bank
Ask them to monitor or freeze your accounts if needed
2
Contact law enforcement for serious incidents
For significant threats, crimes, or losses, police may be able to investigate and, in some cases, help recover what was taken
3
Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
This organization collects information on fraud and identity theft. Visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca to make a report
4
Change your passwords
Update all your accounts and enable multi-factor authentication
5
Learn from the experience
Regularly check your privacy settings, limit what you share, and keep up with online safety tips
6
Get emotional support if you need it
Post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia can contact Good2Talk – a free and confidential support service for post-secondary students
Stay aware, stay safe
Being a student today means living online — studying, collaborating, socializing, and applying for opportunities all happen on the internet. These tools are essential, but they come with responsibilities.
Stay alert. Be cautious. Protect your personal and academic information.
By understanding the risks and knowing how to respond, you can confidently engage online while keeping your identity, data, and education safe.