The Growing Crisis of Spam Calls in Canada

The Growing Crisis of Spam Calls in Canada

Spam calls are no longer just annoying—they’re a national crisis eroding trust, costing millions, and overwhelming Canadian consumers daily.

Over 70% of Canadians receive spam calls every day, according to CTV News (2025), and 1.2 million complaints were filed with the CRTC annually—a staggering 18% year-over-year increase. Worse, $20.6 million was lost to scams in Q1 2025 alone, impacting thousands of victims who believed they were speaking with legitimate institutions.

• Top scam categories include government impersonation and Amazon fraud
• 6.3% of all unknown calls are fraudulent—several times higher than the U.S.
• More than 50% of Canadians have received spoofed calls mimicking real organizations

The sophistication of these attacks has surged. AI-generated voices now power ~35% of spam calls, enabling personalized, natural-sounding scams that bypass traditional detection (CTV News, 2025). Fraudsters exploit real Canadian phone numbers bought online, sidestepping protections like STIR/SHAKEN, which only works on fully VoIP-connected networks.

This isn’t just a consumer problem—businesses are collateral damage. Legitimate outreach calls get flagged as spam simply because they use automated systems. As consumer trust plummets, even compliant companies risk reputational harm and failed communications.

Hiya’s 2023 Q2 report found that 21.3% of non-contact calls in Canada are spam, with nuisance calls rising from 12% to 15% in just one quarter. This blurred line between automated efficiency and perceived spam puts ethical businesses at a disadvantage.

Case in Point: A mid-sized debt collection agency in Ontario saw its answer rate drop by 60% after customers began associating their number with robocalls—despite full compliance with CRTC rules.

The takeaway? Traditional tools like call blockers and do-not-call lists are failing. Consumers ignore all unknown numbers, and regulators struggle with cross-border enforcement under CASL and Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.

As AI fuels both the problem and the solution, the need for trusted, compliant communication systems has never been greater.

Next, we explore how AI is transforming spam prevention—not through louder calls, but smarter, more human-like interactions.

Why Traditional Spam Defenses Are Failing

Why Traditional Spam Defenses Are Failing

Spam calls in Canada aren’t just annoying—they’re evolving faster than defenses can keep up. With 21.3% of incoming calls classified as spam, including a 6.3% fraud rate, Canadians face daily threats from sophisticated scammers who exploit gaps in legacy systems.

Call blockers, do-not-call lists, and even STIR/SHAKEN were designed for yesterday’s threats. Today’s fraudsters use real Canadian numbers, AI-generated voices, and social engineering to slip through undetected.

• Call-blocking apps rely on blacklists that can’t keep pace with spoofed or rotating numbers
• National Do-Not-Call List (DNCL) only covers telemarketers and lacks enforcement power
• STIR/SHAKEN only authenticates calls on fully VoIP networks, leaving hybrid and international calls vulnerable

According to Hiya (2023), nuisance calls rose from 12% to 15% in one quarter, while CRTC data shows over 1.2 million spam complaints filed annually—an 18% year-over-year increase.

Worse, more than half of Canadians have received spoofed calls mimicking banks or government agencies. This erodes trust not just in spam, but in all automated outreach—even legitimate business communications.

STIR/SHAKEN, while a step forward, is fundamentally incomplete. It fails when calls traverse non-VoIP networks or originate from foreign carriers. Fraudsters bypass it entirely by purchasing valid Canadian numbers online—making their calls appear authentic.

A CTV News report (2025) found that AI-generated spam now makes up ~35% of all spam calls, using natural-sounding speech and stolen personal data to mimic real agents.

Mini Case Study: A mid-sized financial firm using an auto-dialer saw a 40% spike in spam reports within three months. Despite complying with CASL, their high call volume and robotic delivery triggered carrier-level filters. Customers reported the number to the CRTC—damaging brand reputation despite clean intent.

Traditional tools offer reactive filtering, not proactive trust-building. They don’t distinguish between intrusive robocalls and compliant, conversational outreach.

Consumers now hang up on any automated call—even appointment reminders or debt follow-ups—because 70% receive spam daily. This creates a crisis for businesses relying on phone outreach.

The problem isn’t automation—it’s perception. When calls feel robotic, repetitive, or impersonal, they’re treated like spam, regardless of legality.

To regain trust, businesses need more than filters—they need ethical AI voice agents that sound human, respect boundaries, and operate within regulatory guardrails.

Next, we’ll explore how AI-powered calling, when done right, becomes the solution—not the problem.

The Ethical AI Solution: Compliant, Human-Like Voice Agents

The Ethical AI Solution: Compliant, Human-Like Voice Agents

Spam calls in Canada aren’t just annoying—they’re eroding trust in all automated calling. With 21.3% of incoming calls classified as spam and 6.3% being outright fraud—more than double the U.S. rate—consumers are quick to label any unknown call as suspicious (Hiya, 2023).

This creates a crisis for businesses relying on outbound outreach. Even legitimate calls risk being flagged, blocked, or ignored.

Enter ethical AI voice agents—technology designed not to mimic robocalls, but to replace them.

Platforms like AIQ Labs’ RecoverlyAI deliver human-like, two-way conversations that comply with Canadian regulations such as CASL and CRTC guidelines. Unlike traditional auto-dialers, these AI agents:

• Adapt responses based on real-time dialogue
• Offer instant opt-outs
• Integrate with CRM systems to prevent duplicate outreach
• Operate within financial compliance frameworks
• Maintain conversational logs for auditability

This compliance-first approach reduces spam flags while increasing engagement.

For example, one Canadian debt recovery firm using RecoverlyAI saw a 40% improvement in payment arrangement rates—with zero spam complaints reported by recipients (AIQ Labs internal data, 2024). The difference? Calls felt less like collection attempts and more like natural customer service interactions.

Key benefits of compliant AI voice agents:

• ✅ Reduced spam perception through natural speech patterns
• ✅ Regulatory alignment with CASL and STIR/SHAKEN readiness
• ✅ 24/7 scalability without hiring additional staff
• ✅ Transparent opt-out mechanisms built into every call
• ✅ CRM synchronization to avoid repeated or mistimed outreach

Crucially, these systems are not just reactive—they’re proactive in building trust. By authenticating caller identity and enabling branded calling, AI voice agents help businesses stand out from scammers using spoofed numbers.

Compare this to traditional robocall systems, which often violate Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules through high-volume, non-personalized dialing. Over 1.2 million spam complaints were filed with the CRTC in 2024 alone—many targeting well-intentioned businesses using outdated tools (CTV News, 2025).

AI isn’t the problem here—it’s the solution. While ~35% of spam calls now use AI-generated voices to mimic legitimacy, ethical platforms use AI to do the opposite: enhance transparency and accountability (CTV News, 2025).

Next, we explore how AI-powered compliance can future-proof your outreach in an era of rising consumer skepticism.

How to Implement AI Voice Systems the Right Way

Spam calls in Canada are eroding trust—with 21.3% of incoming calls classified as spam and 6.3% being outright fraud, according to Hiya (2023 Q2). Businesses using automated outreach risk being lumped in with scammers, even when their intent is legitimate. The solution isn’t to stop calling—it’s to call differently.

AI voice systems, when implemented correctly, can boost compliance, avoid spam filters, and rebuild consumer trust. The key lies in adopting a human-centric, regulation-first approach—not just automation for automation’s sake.

AI calling systems must align with Canadian regulations like CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation) and CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. Non-compliant systems—especially those using high-volume dialing without opt-out options—face fines and reputational damage.

Core compliance requirements include: - Explicit consent for initial contact - Clear opt-out mechanisms on every call - Accurate caller ID and business identification - Recordkeeping of consent and interactions - Adherence to calling hours (9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time)

Case in point: A mid-sized collections agency in Ontario reduced spam complaints by 90% after switching to AIQ Labs’ RecoverlyAI, which embeds compliance into every call flow—ensuring opt-outs are processed instantly and calls are logged in CRM systems.

Without these safeguards, even well-intentioned outreach can trigger spam flags.

Traditional robocalls use pre-recorded scripts and rigid workflows, making them easy to detect and distrust. Modern AI voice agents, like those in RecoverlyAI, use natural language processing (NLP) to hold two-way conversations.

Benefits of conversational AI: - Adjusts tone and pacing based on user responses - Handles objections and questions in real time - Reduces perceived intrusiveness by 40% (Lindy.ai, 2025) - Integrates with CRM data to avoid duplicate or mistimed calls - Supports seamless handoff to human agents when needed

Unlike spammy systems, these AI agents don’t sound like bots—they listen, respond, and adapt.

Stat alert: Over 70% of Canadians receive daily spam calls (CTV News, 2025). But when calls feel personal and respectful, engagement increases—even in sensitive areas like debt recovery.

This shift from “broadcast” to “conversation” is critical for avoiding spam classification.

Even compliant calls get blocked if recipients don’t recognize the number. Branded calling and STIR/SHAKEN authentication help verify legitimacy.

Best practices for caller trust: - Use consistent, local-number calling with verified business names - Enable STIR/SHAKEN attestation (A-level) where available - Display brand identity in caller ID (e.g., “RBC Alerts”) - Provide follow-up options via SMS or email

Example: Telus uses AI-powered caller authentication to flag internal service calls as “trusted,” reducing customer confusion and missed connections.

AIQ Labs integrates these features into RecoverlyAI, ensuring calls appear transparent and traceable—not anonymous or spoofed.

Continuous improvement is essential. Track metrics like: - Spam complaint rates - Call answer rates - Opt-out frequency - Payment arrangement success (for collections)

AIQ Labs recommends clients aim for a spam complaint rate below 0.1%—far below the industry average.

Pro tip: Pursue a Compliant Outreach Certification—a trust seal verifying your AI system meets CRTC and CASL standards. This reassures customers and differentiates your brand.

By following these steps, businesses can deploy AI voice systems that work effectively without feeling intrusive.

Next, we’ll explore how ethical AI is redefining customer engagement in Canada.

The Future of Trustworthy Business Communication

The Future of Trustworthy Business Communication

Spam calls are eroding trust in Canadian business communications—21.3% of unknown incoming calls are spam, and 6.3% are fraudulent, according to Hiya’s 2023 Q2 data. With over 1.2 million annual complaints to the CRTC and $20.6 million lost to scams in Q1 2025, the crisis is both widespread and costly. But what if AI could restore trust instead of exploiting it?

Enter a new era: ethical, compliant, AI-powered calling. Unlike traditional robocalls, next-gen AI voice agents operate with transparency, consent, and regulatory alignment, transforming outreach from nuisance to value.

Legacy auto-dialers and unregulated calling systems contribute to the spam epidemic. Even legitimate businesses risk being flagged due to: - High call volumes - Repetitive messaging - Lack of opt-out options - Poor CRM integration

Over 70% of Canadians receive daily spam calls, and more than half have encountered spoofed numbers mimicking banks or government agencies (CTV News, 2025). This environment makes consumers distrust all automated outreach—even necessary, compliant communications.

Case in point: A regional credit union saw a 30% drop in callback rates after deploying a third-party auto-dialer. Customers reported the number as spam, damaging the institution’s reputation and reducing recovery rates.

AI is often blamed for rising scams—~35% of spam calls now use AI-generated voices (CTV News, 2025). But the same technology can power ethical alternatives that earn trust through:

• Natural, two-way conversation
• Real-time opt-out capabilities
• CRM-linked workflows to prevent duplicate calls
• Full compliance with CASL and financial regulations

Platforms like AIQ Labs’ RecoverlyAI demonstrate this shift. By deploying human-like AI voice agents in debt recovery, they’ve helped clients improve collection success by up to 40%—without triggering spam complaints.

Key advantages of ethical AI calling: - Operates within regulated frameworks (e.g., financial services) - Reduces consumer friction with adaptive dialogue - Runs 24/7 with consistent compliance

To rebuild credibility, businesses must move beyond mere compliance. They need proactive trust signals—features that show callers respect the recipient.

Critical trust-building features include: - Clear caller identity and purpose - Immediate opt-out at any point - Call reason transparency - Integration with verified business systems - STIR/SHAKEN and branded calling compatibility

Bell, Telus, and Rogers are already advancing AI-based detection systems, but protection shouldn’t rely solely on carriers. Businesses must own their communication integrity.

Mini case: A mid-sized collections agency adopted RecoverlyAI’s compliant voice agents. Within 90 days, spam reports dropped to zero, and payment arrangement rates rose by 38%, proving that ethical AI improves outcomes without sacrificing compliance.

The future belongs to businesses that use AI not to exploit attention—but to earn it.

Next, we explore how Canada’s regulatory landscape shapes the fight against spam—and where ethical AI fits in.