Scammers target every age group, Conexus warns

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month in Canada, and Conexus Credit Union is warning its members and the public that cybercriminals target people of every generation.

"Unfortunately, scammers target and defraud every age group in our province. It is a misconception that scammers only defraud the senior citizen generation," said Mark Millham, chief risk and compliance officer at Conexus.

Millham said only 5 to 10 per cent of scams are ever reported.

"We encourage everyone to brush up on cybersecurity best practices and to know that they can come forward to the police and to their financial institution to report scams," he said.

Conexus is pointing to three scams currently trending in Saskatchewan.

Investment scams promise returns that seem too good to be true. Scammers may even send some money back to the victim as a "return" or "dividend" to build trust and draw in more money.

Verification code scams start with a one-time passcode the victim never requested. Once a scammer gets that code, they can take control of the account and commit fraud. Conexus says people should never share a one-time passcode with anyone.

Overpayment scams target people selling items. The fraudster buys the item, claims to have accidentally sent too much money and asks the seller to refund the difference. The original payment is later found to be fraudulent, leaving the seller with neither the item nor the money. Conexus advises sellers never to send funds back and to contact their financial institution right away.

The credit union encourages people to follow the "three R's": recognize what scams look like and when someone is trying to fool you, reject the scam and refuse to give in to fraudsters, and report any suspected fraud, whether it involves you or a loved one.

If something feels off, Conexus says to trust your gut. Stop by a branch to verify information, or hang up and call the credit union's contact centre directly. Conexus noted that it does not offer loan applications or will kits through social media.

Members should only enter their banking credentials on the Conexus, Cornerstone or Synergy digital banking platforms, either through the app or a bookmarked website. They should never enter information through a link someone has sent them.

Other tips include creating strong passwords and never reusing them, setting up real-time account alerts to catch fraud early, and watching for pressure tactics, attempts to get around normal transaction processes and suspicious links.

Members of Conexus, Cornerstone or Synergy who believe they have been victims of fraud should contact their credit union and report it immediately. More information is available through the Government of Canada's Cyber Security Awareness Month and #StandAgainstScams resources.

Conexus, Cornerstone Credit Union and Synergy Credit Union amalgamated as Conexus Credit Union on Jan. 1, 2026. The credit union manages $17 billion in assets and serves more than 200,000 members through 57 branches in 50 communities.