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Digital safety for real life

Pause. Verify. Protect.

Basic online safety for people who'd rather not hand their money, identity, location, attention, or passwords to a stranger with a convincing email signature.

Scams don't work because people are stupid. They work because they're designed to rush, confuse, flatter, scare, pressure, or impersonate something you already trust.

You don't have to become a cybersecurity person. You need a few boring habits that make it harder for random nonsense to reach your important stuff.

Start with Pause. Verify. Protect. Build my digital basics plan Report fraud or cybercrime

You don't have to know whether it's a scam. You just have to know you don't click things because a stranger typed 'urgent.'

Leave Early provides general digital-safety education. It isn't a substitute for your bank, employer, service provider, government agency, law enforcement, legal advice, financial advice, technical support, or professional cybersecurity help.

If you think money, accounts, personal information, or identity details may be at risk, contact the relevant organization using contact information you find independently—not a number or link from a suspicious message.

If you're in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number when it's safe to do so.

If you think someone may be monitoring your device, accounts, location, email, or online activity, consider using a safer device or private way to seek specialized support when possible.

The core idea

Pause. Verify. Protect.

The internet is full of people who'd like you to panic professionally.

You don't have to cooperate.

  • P

    Pause

    Slow down before you click, reply, pay, share, download, or log in. Urgency is a reason to slow down, not a reason to act.

  • V

    Verify

    Use a real website, official app, known phone number, or trusted person—not the contact details in the message.

  • P

    Protect

    Use simple habits that make it harder for someone else to access your money, identity, accounts, devices, or information.

A believable logo is not a credential.

What's this about?

Start with the thing that showed up in your life.

  • I got a suspicious email or text

    Package notices, banking alerts, fake invoices, government messages, and anything marked urgent.

    Check the message

  • Someone wants money, information, or a code

    Payment requests, account verification, gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, passwords, or one-time codes.

    Slow it down

  • I think someone is pretending to be someone else

    Bank, employer, government, family member, friend, celebrity, delivery company, support person, or online match.

    Verify independently

  • I clicked something or shared information

    Start with the next useful step. No shame, no panic spiral.

    See what to do next

  • I want to protect my accounts and devices

    Passwords, multi-factor authentication, updates, account recovery, privacy, and location basics.

    Build my basics

  • I'm buying, selling, dating, or meeting people online

    Marketplace, rental, job, dating, and online-to-offline safety.

    Use safer online habits

  • I'm worried about identity theft

    Next steps and official Canadian reporting pathways.

    Find support

  • I think someone may be monitoring my devices or accounts

    Specialized support and privacy-first next steps.

    Find specialized support

  • I'm helping someone else

    How to support someone who may have been scammed or is worried about online safety.

    Help without blame

  • I'm not sure

    Start with the three-step framework or use a quick scam-check decision tool.

    Help me choose

The 30-second pause

Before you click, try this.

You don't need to solve the internet. You need 30 seconds and a better next move. Nothing here is stored—it stays on your device and clears when you leave.

What is this asking you to do?

Common scam pressure

Scams usually don't start with the word 'scam.' Rude of them.

They often start with pressure, urgency, authority, fear, reward, romance, confusion, or a request that feels just reasonable enough.

  • Urgency

    • "Act now."
    • "Your account will be closed."
    • "Your package is waiting."
    • "This is your final notice."

    Slow down. A real organization can handle you checking.

  • Authority

    • "I'm calling from your bank."
    • "This is the government."
    • "This is your employer."
    • "This is technical support."

    Use a contact method you find independently.

  • Fear

    • "You're in trouble."
    • "Your account is compromised."
    • "You owe money."
    • "Someone has used your identity."

    Don't panic. Check through official channels.

  • Reward

    • "You won."
    • "You qualify."
    • "You've been selected."
    • "This deal ends now."

    Good news can wait 30 seconds too.

  • Relationship

    • "I need help."
    • "Don't tell anyone."
    • "Can you send me a code?"
    • "I'm embarrassed to ask."

    Verify using a separate contact method.

  • Confusion

    • "Use this new app."
    • "Click here to fix it."
    • "Your account needs verification."
    • "We changed our payment details."

    Stop. Find the official route.

These patterns don't prove a message is fraudulent. They are reasons to pause and verify before you act.

Verified Canadian resources

Start with the real people.

Use verified organizations and official Canadian reporting pathways. Services, eligibility, and availability can change—confirm current information directly with the provider.

  • Get Cyber Safe: Phishing

    Official Government of Canada resource

    Government of Canada guidance on recognizing phishing messages, avoiding suspicious links and attachments, and verifying requests through official channels.

    Learn about phishing

  • Get Cyber Safe: The 7 red flags of phishing

    Official Government of Canada resource

    Government of Canada guidance on common phishing red flags and what to do if a message seems suspicious.

    See phishing red flags

  • Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report fraud and cybercrime

    Official Canadian reporting resource

    Report fraud or cybercrime in Canada, whether you are a victim or a witness.

    Report fraud or cybercrime

  • Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: What to do if you're a victim of fraud

    Official Canadian reporting resource

    Official information about steps you can take after fraud, including reporting and contacting relevant organizations.

    Find next steps after fraud

  • Canadian Centre for Cyber Security

    Official Government of Canada resource

    Government of Canada cybersecurity guidance and resources for individuals.

    Explore cyber safety guidance

  • Canada Revenue Agency: Report a scam or identity theft

    Official Government of Canada resource

    Official CRA information about reporting suspected scams or identity theft involving CRA accounts or communications.

    Report a CRA scam or identity concern

Leave Early provides general digital-safety education. It isn't an emergency service, law enforcement, financial advisor, or substitute for professional cybersecurity help.

If someone you know got scammed

Start with support. Save the lecture for never.

Shame makes it harder to ask for help. Practical support makes it easier to take the next step.

Scams are designed to rush, confuse, impersonate, and pressure people. Someone who was scammed doesn't need a post-game analysis of what they should've noticed.

Practical support

  • Stay calm.
  • Ask what happened only as much as they want to share.
  • Help them contact a bank, account provider, service provider, employer, platform, or government agency through verified contact information.
  • Help them save official reporting links.
  • Help them report fraud or cybercrime if they want.
  • Offer to sit with them while they make a call.
  • Avoid contacting suspected scammers yourself.
  • Avoid shaming, blaming, or demanding details.

Useful phrases

  • "I'm glad you told me."
  • "This can happen to anyone."
  • "Let's take one step at a time."
  • "Do you want help finding the official contact?"
  • "We can report this together if you want."
  • "You don't have to figure it out alone."
See the full guide

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If you're in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency number when it's safe to do so.

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Awkward is cheaper than unsafe.