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Fraud Awareness

As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, watch out for associated scams. Fraudsters want to profit from consumers' fears, uncertainties and misinformation. Fraudsters are exploiting the crisis to facilitate fraud and cyber-crime.

BE AWARE AND PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST COVID-19 SCAMS!

Watch out for...

  • Spoofed government, healthcare or research information
  • Unsolicited calls, emails and texts giving medical advice or requesting urgent action or payment - if you didn't initiate contact, you don't know who you're communicating to
  • Suspicious links and attachments (never respond or click on these) 
  • Never give out your personal or financial details
  • Unauthorized or fraudulent charities requesting money for victims, products or research - don't be pressured into making a donation/verify that a charity is registered
  • High-priced or low-quality products purchased in bulk by consumers and resold for profit
  • CRA through texts that encourage the receiver to click on a link to access an emergency benefit. CRA NEVER uses texts to communicate. Delete the text immediately as the link harbours malware.
If you are a victim of fraud or think your personal financial information may have been compromised, contact us immediately >

Reported scams

Fraudsters have been reported as posing as:

  • Cleaning or heating companies - offering duct cleaning services or air filters to protect from COVID-19
  • Local and provincial hydro/electrical power companies - threatening to disconnect your power for non-payment
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization - offering fake lists for sale of COVID-19 infected people in your neighbourhood
  • Public Health Agency of Canada - giving false results saying you have been tested positive for COVID-19 tricking you into confirming your health card and credit card numbers for a prescription
  • Red Cross and other known charities - offering free medical products (e.g. masks) for a donation
  • Government departments - sending out coronavirus-themed phishing emails tricking you into opening malicious attachments tricking you to reveal sensitive personal and financial details
  • Financial advisors - pressuring people to invest in hot new stocks related to the disease, offering financial aid and/or loans to help you get through the shut downs
  • Door-to-door sales people - selling household decontamination services
  • Private companies - offering fast COVID-19 tests for sale. Only health care providers can perform the tests, no other tests are genuine or guaranteed to provide accurate results

Trusted websites and resources