Red flags and staying safe

Warning signs to take seriously

One of these on its own does not prove someone means harm. Two or three together are a good reason to slow down and talk to someone you trust.

• Someone asks you for money, a loan, or a donation for a cause, especially in cash, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• Someone pushes you to marry quickly, or offers to introduce you to someone to marry before you are ready.
• Someone you have not met in person says they love you, wants to move the chat somewhere private, and always has a reason not to meet.
• A person or group tells you to keep things secret from your family, your friends or other teachers.
• A group says most Muslims are not real Muslims, tells you to cut off your family, or talks about anger and violence.
• Someone offers help with immigration or sponsorship and promises a guaranteed or faster result.

Money requests and charity

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns about people who ask for donations to a charity, association or religious cause, often with a lot of pressure. The Canada Revenue Agency says not to give if you feel pushed to give right away.

If you want to give, give to a registered charity rather than to a person. Ask for the charity's details in writing and for its registration number, then check it on the CRA list of charities or by calling 1-800-267-2384. Registered charities do not accept cryptocurrency, and cash and gift cards cannot be traced. If money collected at a masjid or an event does not add up, you can report a registered charity to the Canada Revenue Agency.

Pressure to marry, and romance scams

Marriage is a big decision, and it is fine to take time to settle into your faith first. You can say no, or not yet. A sincere person will be patient, and glad for your family, friends or a trusted imam to be involved.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists these signs of a romance scam: someone you have not met professes their love, wants to move quickly to a private app such as WhatsApp, always has an excuse not to meet, gets upset to guilt you into sending money, and discourages you from talking about them with friends and family. Never send money or personal documents to someone you have not met in person.

The Anti-Fraud Centre also warns about sextortion, where a fake profile asks for intimate video and then demands money. Live video can be recorded. Do not send money, and report it to the police and the Anti-Fraud Centre.

Immigration and sponsorship offers

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) says no one can guarantee you a visa or faster processing. IRCC will never ask you to pay into a personal bank account, send money through a private transfer service, contact you from a free email address such as Gmail, ask for payment by phone, or start a conversation on social media. Scammers also phone pretending to be IRCC and threaten deportation unless you pay.

If you are unsure, contact IRCC directly. For your own case, speak to a licensed immigration lawyer or consultant. IRCC's reporting page explains where to report a scam.

Groups that isolate you

Be careful with any group that cuts you off from your family, other teachers and the wider community, asks you to keep secrets, looks down on most other Muslims, or stirs up anger and talk of violence. Public Safety Canada says violent extremism is not linked to any particular religion. It also describes online recruiters (its example is Daesh) who isolate people from positive influences and then move them to more private platforms.

If you are worried about a group, step back and talk to a trusted imam, friend or family member. If someone talks about violence or you feel unsafe, call 911. Public Safety Canada lists free, voluntary support programmes, such as ETA in the GTA and Southern Ontario (call or text 416-617-4561) and Project ReSet in Ottawa (613-789-7418).

If you are keeping your conversion private

When to tell people is your decision, and many converts wait for the right time. If someone at home might look at your phone or computer, remember that installed apps, browser history and messages can be seen. The Government of Canada's safety planning page warns that someone can monitor your online activity, and that there is no sure way to delete all of that information.

This site can be installed on your phone and keeps pages for offline reading, so it may show up in your apps or history. Private browsing avoids history but not an installed app. Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-step sign-in for your accounts. If you are afraid of violence at home, the same government page walks you through making a safety plan. In danger, call 911.

Support for women

If you are a woman facing pressure at home, abuse, or the risk of losing your housing, these Muslim women's services in Canada can help. We checked each number on the service's own website on 23 September 2026. In immediate danger, call 911 first.

• Sakeenah Canada: 24/7 hotline 1-888-671-3446 for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Sakeenah also runs transitional homes in several cities. Checked 23 September 2026.
• Nisa Helpline: +1 888 711 6472, 7 days a week from 8 am to midnight Eastern, for women and girls 14 and up. It is free, confidential peer support, not a crisis line.
• Nisa Homes, run by the Nisa Foundation: safe shelter for women and children, with locations across Canada. You can apply for help through nisafoundation.ca.
• If you are thinking about suicide, or worried about someone, call or text 9-8-8 at any time.

How to report

The police investigate crimes. The Anti-Fraud Centre collects reports and helps police spot patterns, so it is worth reporting to both.

• In immediate danger, or if a crime is happening now: call 911.
• A crime that is not an emergency, such as theft, threats or fraud: call your local police non-emergency line or use its online reporting. For example, Ottawa Police is 613-236-1222, and the OPP is 1-888-310-1122 in areas it polices.
• Scams and fraud: tell your local police first, then report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern, closed on holidays). Online reports can be anonymous.
• A child at risk: in Ontario, everyone is required by law to report it to a children's aid society.
• Misuse of a registered charity's money: report it to the Canada Revenue Agency.
• A mentor, group or volunteer connected to Revert Guide: tell us through our get help page.

Being targeted is not your fault

The Anti-Fraud Centre says fraud can happen to anyone, and scammers often go after kind, trusting people. Being targeted says nothing about your faith or your intelligence. Stopping, asking questions and reporting are all the right things to do, and a healthy community will back you.

Things you can say

Common situations

Where to go next