{"id":88510,"date":"2024-08-06T14:45:56","date_gmt":"2024-08-06T18:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/?post_type=rbc_my_money_matter&#038;p=88510"},"modified":"2024-08-27T11:04:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T15:04:15","slug":"essential-guide-to-avoiding-debt-relief-scams","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/unexpected-events\/handling-financial-stress\/essential-guide-to-avoiding-debt-relief-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Essential Guide to Avoiding Debt Relief Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-article-header\">\n\t<section class=\"section-grey cover pad-t-hlf\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin cover section-grey pad-tb-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"inline-block pill-container pill-taxonomies\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mar-b-hlf mob-mar-b snipe pill is-style-blue-pill\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/personal-finance\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Personal Finance<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"mar-b-hlf mar-t-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf h2 has-black-color\">Essential Guide to Avoiding Debt Relief Scams<\/h1><p class=\"mar-b-0 mob-pad-lr-hlf author-text\">By Sylvie Tremblay<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-image-wrapper pos-rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?quality=80\" class=\" cover-image  wp-post-image\" alt=\"Angry young couple looking at a contract\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg 5231w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/08\/shutterstock_1395298547_DebtReliefScams.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\t<div class=\"article mar-t-dbl\">\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner socials-section\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"top-socials-bar mob-mar-b-hlf\">    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Essential Guide to Avoiding Debt Relief Scams &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/unexpected-events\/handling-financial-stress\/essential-guide-to-avoiding-debt-relief-scams\/\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-email.svg\"\n          alt=\"envelope icon\">\n        <span>\n          Email        <\/span>\n      <\/a>\n      <div class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-copy-wrapper\">\n        <button class=\"sharing-custom sharing-copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/unexpected-events\/handling-financial-stress\/essential-guide-to-avoiding-debt-relief-scams\/\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\"\n            src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/plugins\/rbc-blocks\/assets\/img\/icons\/icon-related.svg\"\n            alt=\"copy icon\">\n          <span id=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n            Copy URL          <\/span>\n        <\/button>\n        <input type=\"text\" class=\"sharing-copy-text\" aria-labelledby=\"sharing-copyUrl-Label\">\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"section-inner w-half w-mob-full centered-margin pad-tb-0 mob-mar-t-hlf mob-mar-b\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cover-pub-line text-xs mar-b-hlf\">Published August 6, 2024 \u2022 6 Min Read<\/p>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner w-half w-mob-full\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-block drop-shadow pos-rel top-line-blue block-wpr  mar-b-hlf\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-block-inner-block block-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tldr\">TLDR<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Canadian consumer debt is on the rise \u2014 and so are debt relief scams promising quick and easy fixes to alleviate the stresses of debt.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Scammers often charge upfront fees and use unrealistic promises and high-pressure tactics to get your business.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>If you\u2019re struggling to manage your debt, your bank can offer solutions, such as debt consolidation loans, to help.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing debt can be stressful at the best of times \u2014 and if you\u2019re struggling, you\u2019re not alone. Canadians&#8217; total consumer debt load reached $2.45 trillion in the last quarter of 2023, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.equifax.com\/assets\/canada\/english\/EQ-ConsumerTrends-Report-2023-Q4-EN-240314.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-f4945734\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"research conducted by Equifax\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">research conducted by Equifax<\/a>, and the average Canadian carries $21,296 in consumer debt.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As debt levels continue to rise, <a href=\"https:\/\/toronto.ctvnews.ca\/having-financial-problems-don-t-get-caught-in-debt-relief-scams-1.6646873\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-64c61063\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"more and more Canadians\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">more and more Canadians<\/a> find themselves targeted by debt relief scams carried out by unlicensed debt advisory firms. The scammers often promise a \u201cquick fix\u201d for debt through insolvency solutions, like bankruptcies. But, in reality, they\u2019re not licensed to provide these services \u2014 and they\u2019re pressuring Canadians into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars in fees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help managing your debt, there are trustworthy places to turn for assistance. Here\u2019s how to distinguish a debt relief scam from a legitimate solution, how your bank can help you pay down your debt and how to protect yourself from scammers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a debt relief scam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a nutshell, a debt relief scam involves an unlicensed debt consultant promising to help you manage your debt.&nbsp; It\u2019s concerning because they will typically promise to negotiate with creditors on your behalf \u2014 and may claim you\u2019ll only have to pay pennies on the dollar. In exchange, they\u2019ll charge hundreds or thousands of dollars in administrative or referral fees for services they are not licensed to provide.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Signs of a debt relief scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While no two scams are exactly alike, there are several red flags that indicate that someone identifying themselves as a debt relief consultant may not be legitimate.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. They charge fees upfront&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Legitimate debt relief starts with an honest conversation about your financial situation, your options and your goals. In contrast, debt relief scams may demand payment upfront or require you to pay administration or referral fees for unnecessary services \u2014 even if they have yet to provide any services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. They promise unrealistic results \u2014 without being transparent about how they\u2019ll achieve them&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many debt relief scams promise a quick and easy fix for your debt. They may tell you to stop talking to your creditors, allow them to negotiate on your behalf and promise to erase nearly all your debt. A legitimate provider, in contrast, will outline the pros and cons of each option and give you a sense of the results you can realistically expect.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-grey-background-color has-background\"><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> The average consumer proposal typically settles for between <a href=\"https:\/\/bankruptcycanada.com\/how-consumer-proposal-payments-are-calculated\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-33d3a8db\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"30 to 40 cents\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">30 to 40 cents<\/a> on the dollar. Be cautious of agents promising significantly better results.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. You feel pressured to make a decision&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Debt relief firms play on your fear and stress \u2014 and they lay on the pressure to work with them to manage your debt ASAP. Legitimate consultants offer no-pressure, no-commitment consultations, and they\u2019ll allow you to make decisions at your own pace.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-light-grey-background-color has-background\"><strong>Pro tip: <\/strong>Beware of debt relief consultancy firms that promise you a \u201cbetter deal\u201d if you agree to work with them now. The fees charged by debt relief consultants are regulated by the federal government.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. They have a limited offline presence&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Offering virtual consultations isn\u2019t a red flag in itself because legitimate debt consultants may offer the option to access services online. However, you should be cautious of firms that <em>only <\/em>offer online services and don\u2019t provide a legitimate physical address in Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to protect yourself from debt relief scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Three steps to take to protect your financial well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Stay informed about the latest cyber scams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, scammers get smarter and change their tactics regularly \u2014 and up-to-date information is your first line of defense against fraud. Keep on top of cyber fraud tactics with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/cyber-security\/alerts\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-2ff75aaa\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"RBC scam alerts\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">RBC scam alerts<\/a>, so you\u2019re more likely to identify a scammer if they contact you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Talk to your bank about debt management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Managing debt can be stressful, but talking to your bank can help. A financial advisor can help you make sense of your debt and help you create a plan to pay it off. Your bank can also offer solutions to help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/personal-loans\/pay-down-debt.html\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-9ed484d5\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"pay down your debt\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">pay down your debt<\/a>, such as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list default is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p class=\"is-style-default default\">&nbsp;<strong>Debt consolidation loans or lines of credit<\/strong>, which allow you to pay off your outstanding balance and repay the loan on an agreed-upon schedule.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>&nbsp;<strong>Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs)<\/strong>, which uses the equity in your home to pay down your debt.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to consider other options, such as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/bankruptcy\/consumer-proposals\/a-consumer-proposal-or-bankruptcy\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-5d0ac2b3\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"consumer proposal or bankruptcy\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">consumer proposal or bankruptcy<\/a>, to relieve your debt, your bank may be able to help you access a licensed professional to help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Do your research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re considering working with a debt relief consultant for a specialized service, such as bankruptcy, use the Government of Canada\u2019s directory to find an active <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ic.gc.ca\/app\/scr\/tds\/web\/?lang=eng\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-0ccdc570\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) near you\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) near you<\/a>. LITs are licensed professionals able to offer debt relief services, and their business practices and fees are regulated by the government.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, familiarized yourself with the acceptable conduct for LITs, so you can spot potential red flags. LITs in Canada must offer the option to receive services in person at any point in your journey, do not charge fees upfront, and provide unbiased insight into the results you can realistically expect.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to report debt relief scams&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve been contacted by someone you suspect is a debt relief scammer, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center. To learn how to make a report online or over the phone, <a href=\"https:\/\/antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca\/report-signalez-eng.htm\" target=\"_blank\" data-dig-id=\"LP-88510-96406963\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"click here\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse834a1009\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse834a1009\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57738-834a1009\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things our lawyers want you to know\"><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse834a1009\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p>This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-f8bc5380-800c-4692-87b8-8ea80fb0f7af\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center h5 mar-b\"><strong>Share This Article<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"socials-block\">\n\t\t\t    <div class=\"social-links mob-mar-b-hlf mob-mar-t-hlf\">\n            <a class=\"social-button-wrapper sharing-custom sharing-email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Essential Guide to Avoiding Debt Relief Scams &#038;body=Hi, I thought you might be interested in this article from RBC My Money Matters: https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/debt-and-stress-relief\/unexpected-events\/handling-financial-stress\/essential-guide-to-avoiding-debt-relief-scams\/\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" 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class=\"wp-block-tk-spacer id-5bb21fee-fa21-44b0-b03d-d7796c527d96\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-single-post-topics related-topics-links\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"h5 mar-r-hlf\">Topics:<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/managing-money\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Managing Money<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/personal-finance\/\" class=\"btn topic mar-t-0 mar-r-qtr mar-b-hlf\">Personal Finance<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel mob-pad-t-dbl\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading mar-b mob-mar-b-dbl mar-t-0\" id=\"h-read-this-next\">Read This Next<\/h2>\n\n\n\t\t\t<div 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https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Stressed-about-money-Banner-wide_402x-2-scaled-1-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Stressed-about-money-Banner-wide_402x-2-scaled-1-1024x494.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Stressed-about-money-Banner-wide_402x-2-scaled-1-768x371.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Stressed-about-money-Banner-wide_402x-2-scaled-1-1536x742.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/Stressed-about-money-Banner-wide_402x-2-scaled-1-2048x989.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-details mob-mar-b-0 mob-mar-t-0 pad-r-0 col-md-12 col-xs-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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Here&#8217;s Why Talking About It Helps<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class= 'grid-one-third grid-tb-full grid-mob-full mar-b'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0 mar-r-0 mar-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"postcard-img-ctr post-card-image col-md-12 col-xs-6 mob-mar-b-0 pad-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/06\/shutterstock_2580359319_financialinfidelity.jpg?quality=80&amp;w=1024\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"A couple sitting on a grey couch facing away from each other, appearing upset.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/06\/shutterstock_2580359319_financialinfidelity.jpg 6240w, 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col-xs-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-taxonomy primary-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/life-events\/finances-and-relationships\/marriage\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMarriage\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/life-events\/finances-and-relationships\/marriage\/financial-infidelity-recognizing-and-addressing\/\" class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">Financial Infidelity: Recognizing and Addressing<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class= 'grid-one-third grid-tb-full grid-mob-full mar-b'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-wpr mar-b-0 mar-r-0 mar-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"postcard-img-ctr post-card-image col-md-12 col-xs-6 mob-mar-b-0 pad-l-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" 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href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/drive\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Drive\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/drive\/the-hidden-link-between-financial-stress-personal-well-being\/\" class=\"card-title h4 mar-t-0\">The Hidden Link Between Financial Stress &amp; Personal Well-Being<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style class=\"advgb-styles-renderer\">\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-f8bc5380-800c-4692-87b8-8ea80fb0f7af {\n\t\theight: 96px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-f8bc5380-800c-4692-87b8-8ea80fb0f7af {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-5bb21fee-fa21-44b0-b03d-d7796c527d96 {\n\t\theight: 60px;\n\t}\n\n\t@media ( max-width: 480px ) {\n\t\t.wp-block-tk-spacer.id-5bb21fee-fa21-44b0-b03d-d7796c527d96 {\n\t\t\theight: 30px;\n\t\t}\n\t}\t<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadian consumer debt is on the rise \u2014 and so are debt relief scams. Learn how to spot potential scams, and what to look for in a debt relief consultant.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":88511,"parent":57278,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[520,77],"rbc_content_type":[31],"rbc_audience":[300],"rbc_lob_group":[509],"rbc_difficulty_level":[33],"rbc_mmm_category":[302,331,308],"class_list":["post-88510","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-managing-money","tag-personal-finance","rbc_content_type-article","rbc_audience-relationships","rbc_lob_group-accounts","rbc_difficulty_level-beginner","rbc_mmm_category-debt-stress-relief","rbc_mmm_category-handling-financial-stress","rbc_mmm_category-unexpected-events"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"","custom_author":"Sylvie Tremblay","rbc_video_header":"","rbc_media_duration":"","rbc_video_keywords":"","rbc_video_description":"","rbc_video_upload_date":"","rbc_toc_for_mmm_tag":"h2","rbc_toc_for_mmm_limit":6,"rbc_toc_for_mmm":null,"rbc_toc_for_mmm_action":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Canadian consumer debt is on the rise \u2014 and so are debt relief scams. 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