FIFA World Cup scams Canadians should be on the look out for
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to take over Canada in a little over two months, but fans attending games should remain vigilant of scams.
Toronto and Vancouver are set to be the Canadian hosts for this year’s edition of the men’s World Cup, and it will be those two cities that get the most attention from visiting fans. With all the fans migrating to those two cities, there are bound to be a few scams out there hoping to take advantage of the high demand for tickets, merchandise, and accommodations.
On Monday, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) sent out a warning to fans planning on attending the World Cup in Toronto or Vancouver about a variety of scams that it is monitoring around the event.
“Fraudsters are known to leverage the attention of world events to carry out fraud,” said Jeff Thomson, the acting manager in charge of the CAFC, in a press release.
“With FIFA World Cup 2026 set to be the largest global sporting event, the CAFC is urging FIFA World Cup 2026 followers to Recognize, Reject and Report fraud. Make sure you verify products and services are legitimate before completing your transaction.”
The warning laid out four distinct scams that are being monitored ahead of the World Cup:
- Fraudulent ticket sales
- Short-term rental fraud
- The sale of counterfeit goods
- Fraudulent travel services
For World Cup tickets, FIFA has announced that its final “last-minute ticket sales” period is set to open on Wednesday, April 1, at 11 a.m. EDT/8 a.m. PDT online. This will not be a lottery system and will remain open to the public to purchase tickets until the end of the tournament. It should be known that these tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The CAFC is recommending that fans who travel to the tournament be cautious of short-term rentals that request urgent payment or are offering very large discounts. Fans should verify that these rentals are legitimate by checking multiple sources and confirming that the listed addresses are real.
They are also urging fans to pay using a credit card whenever possible, as those cards can offer some sort of fraud protection.
“As excitement builds around FIFA World Cup 2026, it’s important to stay vigilant. The Toronto Police Service is reminding the public to take the time to verify who you’re dealing with, use trusted platforms, and be cautious on any offer that pressures you to act quickly,” said David Coffey with the Financial Crimes Unit of the Toronto Police Service.
If you are a victim of one of these scams, the CAFC is saying to contact both the police and your bank if any money or personal details were shared. A report can also be made to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.