Few things are more chilling than falling victim to a cybercrime, yet recent research from Mastercard shows more than half of Canadian small business owners have not had any form of cybersecurity training.* As cyberattacks and fraud continue to rise in Canada, Mastercard has teamed up with Canada’s fastest-growing podcast network, Curiouscast, to educate Canadians by bringing real victims’ stories and the history of cybercrime to life to mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Canadians are increasingly targets of ransomware attacks, with organized cybercrime activity posing a threat to national security and economic prosperity, according to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. October is also Small Business Month in Canada, and only 16 per cent of Canadian small business owners felt prepared for a cyber attack, while nearly two-thirds (63%) don’t even consider themselves a likely target.

Using its global expertise in security solutions, Mastercard is tapping into the power of podcasts to help Canadians better understand cybersecurity risks through special episodes of acclaimed true crime series Nighttime and Dark Poutine.

“When it comes to cyberattacks, it’s not a matter of if a small business will be targeted, it’s a matter of when. However, the majority of Canadian small business owners note they feel unprepared and unprotected against cyber threats,” said Amisha, Parikh, vice president, Security Solutions, Mastercard. “There’s a clear cybersecurity education gap that must be closed because everyone – from consumers to small business - are vulnerable.”

Available on all podcast-streaming platforms, new episodes from Nighttime and Dark Poutine recount real-life experiences of cyberattacks and the history of cybercrime, while staying true to the respective format of both popular Canadian true crime shows.

“The Nighttime and Dark Poutine teams have masterfully harnessed the power of audio storytelling to immerse listeners in the reality of fraud and scam experience,” added Parikh. “We hope these real-life stories and the history of cybercrime will not only entertain Canadians but also inspire them to take action to better protect themselves and their businesses from cyber threats.”

Episode details:

• Nighttime – “Cyber Crime in Canada – with Amisha Parikh and Det. David Coffey”: Available today, host Jordan Bonaparte is joined by Amisha Parikh, Vice President of Security Solutions at Mastercard, and David Coffey from Financial Crimes Unit, Toronto Police Service, to discuss how cybercriminals are exploiting AI and other technologies in scams like SIM swap, job fraud, romance scams, and more, and what businesses and individuals can do to protect themselves. Listen here. 
• Dark Poutine – “A History of Cyber Crime & How to Protect Yourself Online”: Available on October 16, hosts Mike Browne and Scott Hemenway are joined by Amisha Parikh to delve into the chilling history of cybercrime, from early hacking incidents to modern-day ransomware attacks, helping arm listeners with the knowledge to keep themselves and their data safe. Listen here. 

As costs and lost revenue from cyberattacks are projected to reach $10.8 trillion CAD by 2025 globally according to Cybersecurity Ventures, Mastercard continues to tap into innovation in cybersecurity to scale cybersecurity capacity, protect data, and maintain trust.

• Strengthening the digital ecosystem: Providing the resources and support small businesses need through the Mastercard Trust Centre, including education, resources, and a free Cybersecurity Assessment Tool, helping build a resilient digital economy and a secure future for Canada.
• Fraud detection and prevention: Providing customers and partners deeper visibility into cyber risk and greater adaptability and resilience, helping protect their systems through the latest AI technology.
• Biometrics and AI for frictionless security: Leveraging Mastercard’s global expertise to advance the use of biometrics and artificial intelligence to improve secure authentication and fraud deflection, making the future of online interactions safer and data more accessible.
• Innovation through collaboration: Through its Vancouver Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence in Vancouver, Mastercard uses Canadian innovation to accelerate cyber security, partner to help Canada’s tech and business communities grow, and invest in diverse Canadians to power digital inclusion.

“The tools cybercriminals use are constantly becoming more sophisticated, which is why we are constantly innovating and leveraging the power of our global network to help businesses protect themselves against cyber threats and build a better, more secure digital economy for everyone,” Parikh said.

For more information, visit the Mastercard Trust Centrer.

*Mastercard online survey of 300 small business owners across Canada and 2,000 Canadians from the general population in Q2 of 2023.