The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), working with the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), published initial results from a newly launched initiative designed to rapidly disrupt fraudulent investment websites targeting Canadian investors. Between June 5 and November 23, 2025, regulators deactivated 3,961 fake investment-platform and cryptocurrency scam websites linked to 6,918 individual URLs. The Ontario Securities Commission led the procurement and testing of the capability on behalf of the CSA and CIRO. Regulators encouraged investors to report suspicious websites to their local securities regulator and reiterated common fraud red flags, including unregistered individuals or firms, promises of high or guaranteed returns, unsolicited approaches or requests to access devices, pressure to decide quickly, fake celebrity or political endorsements on social media, requests for money to withdraw funds, and “recovery” firms offering to retrieve losses. Investors were also reminded to verify registration using the CSA’s National Registration Search. The CSA indicated it continues to provide information on additional URLs for potential deactivation as part of an ongoing effort to counter online financial fraud.
Canadian Securities Administrators 2025-12-11
Canadian Securities Administrators and CIRO report initial results of new initiative that deactivated 3,961 fraudulent investment and crypto scam websites
The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), with the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), deactivated 3,961 fraudulent investment and cryptocurrency scam websites linked to 6,918 URLs between June 5 and November 23, 2025. The Ontario Securities Commission led the initiative, urging investors to report suspicious sites and highlighting common fraud indicators. The CSA continues identifying additional URLs for potential deactivation to combat online financial fraud.