Cyber safety for youth
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Report it!
If you are a victim or witness to a cybercrime, fraud or scams, please report it to:
- Your local police
- The Report Cybercrime and Fraud website
If you're into gaming, coding, or even hacking, you could have a future working in the cyber sector. Cyber skills are in high demand not only in Canada's job market but around the world. A cyber career could lead to exciting opportunities abroad!
But using these skills in the wrong way can lead you down a darker path. Without knowledge of Canada's cyber laws, young people may commit cybercrimes without even realizing they are breaking the law. Even if these offences start small, they can have big consequences, including:
- a visit and warning from police
- the seizure of computers and limited/restricted internet access
- being arrested and charged
- a penalty or fine
- a criminal record
- serious impacts to educational and career prospects
- restrictions on overseas travel
- prison time
Reviewing the Criminal Code and cybercrime-related offences can help young people understand what online activities are illegal and carry real-life consequences.
Think cybercrime is anonymous? Think again.
When it comes to cybercrimes like phishing, there’s no hiding behind a screen. Illegal online activity leaves a digital footprint that police can trace, meaning real world consequences for cyber offenders.
Transcript - Think cybercrime is anonymous? Think again.
Ominous music
[Aerial shot of a hooded person typing on a computer.]
[Voice over] If you’re a cybercriminal, you may think you can’t be seen behind the screen.
[An animated criminal runs with a credit card, leaving footprints and a line following them.]
[Voice over] But every move online leaves a trace or a digital footprint.
[The criminal holds a mask over their face, then removes it.]
[Voice over] If you think you’re anonymous…think again.
[A hooded man looks around as an animated line crosses the screen. An animated magnifying glass with a blinking eye appears.]
[Voice over] Because there is no way to hide your tracks.
[knock on the door]
[Animated criminal reaches from one laptop into another, pulling out a file. The shot zooms in on their face, framing it with a wanted poster.]
[Voice over] Cybercrime is a criminal offence…
[White dots move along micro-chip pathways. A fingerprint appears on screen.]
[Voice over] One that leaves evidence. It’s not just code…
[Shot pans down on a script of code, highlighting lines as it descends.]
[Voice over] It's a trail the police can trace back to you.
[Police officer’s hands flips the page of a file.]
[Voice over] And the consequences are serious!
[Handcuffs, a clipboard with the text “charged”, a gavel, and an animated mugshot]
[Voice over] You can be arrested, charged, convicted get a criminal record…
[A prisoner paces behind bars.]
[Voice over] … and even face prison time.
[A hooded person types on a computer.]
[Voice over] So, before you commit a cybercrime, think again.
[An animated hacker types on a computer with a backdrop of binary. Prison bars slam shut.]
[Voice over] Because what you do behind a screen can land you behind bars.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police / Gendarmerie royale du Canada
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2025.
Canada Wordmark
More resources
- MediaSmarts:
- Canadian Centre for Cyber Security:
- Public Safety – Cyber careers within the Government of Canada
- Date modified: