Though fraudsters target Canadians of all ages, only 13 per cent of Canadians say they personally feel vulnerable to fraud, says a new TD survey released March 3 for Fraud Prevention Month.

"Fraudsters don't discriminate; they target Canadians of all ages and stages of life and absolutely nobody is immune to being targeted by a fraudster," said Tammy McKinnon, head of the financial crimes and fraud management group at TD.

The majority of Canadians (61 per cent) say they believe social isolation can increase vulnerabilities to fraudsters, and Boomers are seen as most at risk (71 per cent) by other generations, yet Canadians ages 56 to 76 are the most likely to say they personally do not feel vulnerable (92 per cent).

Respondents also said they believe major life changes increase vulnerability to fraud. Changes include moving to Canada from another country (33 per cent), a recent death in the family (32 per cent), a recent divorce or separation (25 per cent), moving away from home for the first time (20 per cent) and starting a new job (9 per cent).

"While going through major life changes or being socially isolated can contribute to heightened vulnerability to fraudsters, it's vital that all Canadians stay vigilant, be aware of common scams, and familiarize themselves with ways to avoid falling victim to fraud," said McKinnon.

Fraud is a major issue for the insurance industry. Read our special report about fighting fraud here.