Last updated: June 10, 2020. For the most up-to-date information, see our Government Resources page.
Scams are misleading campaigns that are intentionally, maliciously made to look and sound like public service announcements, advertisements, or official entities. Scams try to convince you to give them your personal information for their gain. An increasing number of scams during the COVID-19 pandemic aim to profit from community members’ uncertainties and fears about the global health crisis. Learn about scams to watch out for and where to find credible, accurate information.
All scam information and advice on this page comes from the Government of Canada and the Canadian Fraud Centre.
Your friendly C19 Response Coalition team, also known as the people behind this website, is operating in solidarity with and separately from the government agencies listed above. We provide real-world applications on how to protect yourself from the types of fraud identified on this page.
Key links
The Government of Canada’s Anti-Fraud Centre has the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 frauds.
Our What’s Real and What’s Fake guide on how to separate what’s real from what’s fake with the increase of COVID-19 content.
Our Government Updates page lists the most credible sources for up-to-date COVID-19 updates.
Protect yourself from scams and fraud
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns you to watch out for the following types of scams and fraud below. Click the headings to learn how you can protect yourself and find accurate information from government sources or the C19 Response Coalition.
Calls, emails, texts, and websites which falsely claim that they are the government, a healthcare authority, or researcher.
What’s the truth?
- Government agencies and healthcare authorities will never send emails, texts, or call you asking for personal information or account details.
This happened to me, what should I do?
- Confirm the identity of the person contacting you. Ask them who they are and if they really work for the organization they are claiming to represent.
- Never respond or click on suspicious links and attachments.
- Never give out your personal, financial information, or Social Insurance Number.
- For emails, check the “from” address. Oftentimes emails may appear to be legitimate, but are actually from scammers. A red flag is when an email domain does not match the organization that the sender says they are from.
- To learn more, read our step by step guide on how to separate what’s real from what’s fake in an era when COVID-19 content is everywhere.
Requests and offers for payment, medical advice, financial relief, or government assistance and compensation from organizations you do not recognize.
What’s the truth?
- Government agencies and healthcare authorities will never send emails, texts, or call you asking for your money, personal or financial information.
- If you do not recognize the person contacting you or are not expecting calls from them, you should confirm their identity and what they’re claiming.
This happened to me, what should I do?
- Never respond or click on suspicious links and attachments.
- Never give out your personal, financial information, or Social Insurance Number.
- Confirm the identity of the person contacting you. Ask them who they are and if they really work for the organization they are claiming to represent.
- To learn more, read our step by step guide on how to separate what’s real from what’s fake with the increase of COVID-19 content.
Unauthorized and fake charities requesting money for victims, products or research.
What’s the truth? Legitimate charities are registered by the Government of Canada here.
This happened to me, what should I do?
- Do not be pressured into making a donation to any charity.
- Confirm the identity of the person contacting you and whether the charity is registered with the Government of Canada here.
High-priced or low-quality products that are purchased in bulk by consumers and resold for profit.
What’s the truth?
- Be careful of these items as they may be expired and/or dangerous to your health.
- The Government of British Columbia has issued an provincial order which prohibits the resale of essential goods that are originally purchased from a retailer.
“A person must not engage in secondary selling with respect to essential goods and supplies.”
-From Order 9 by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer. COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions related to Provincial Orders. (Retrieved on May 27, 2020).
Questionable offers for products such as miracle cures, herbal remedies, vaccinations, faster testing
What’s the truth?
- The Public Health Agency of Canada has “not approved any product to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. Selling unauthorized health products or making false or misleading claims to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19 is illegal in Canada.”
- The BC Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Agency of Canada have the most up-to-date, credible information on testing and the treatment of COVID-19.
This happened to me, what should I do?
- Check the BC Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Agency of Canada for correct information on testing and treatment.
- You can report the illegal sale or advertising of any products claiming to treat, prevent, or cure COVID-19 on the Government of Canada’s online complaint form.
Fake and deceptive online ads for cleaning products, hand sanitizers, and other items in high demand
What’s the truth?
- Washing your hands and regularly disinfecting commonly used items in your home are both effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Health Canada has a regularly updated list of approved hand sanitizers and hard-surface disinfectants.
This happened to me, what should I do?
- Check if the products are approved by Health Canada. Health Canada has a regularly updated list of approved hand sanitizers and hard-surface disinfectants.
- Learn more about prevention and personal hygiene during COVID-19 here.
If you or your loved ones encounter any COVID-19 scams or online threats, please contact your local police and report the incident online. You can report scams to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free).
Be wary of known scams and fraud
Common reported scams in Canada
The Government of Canada’s Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has recorded and documented cases of scams where people falsely pose as known government services, charities, and financial organizations.
Be careful of people falsely posing as:
- Loan and financial service companies
- Offering loans, debt consolidation and other financial assistance services.
- 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.
- Centres 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 email 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.
- Selling fraudulent products that claim to treat or prevent the disease.
- Unapproved drugs threaten public health and violate federal laws.
-From the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. (Retrieved on May 19. 2020).
Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of the scams that may be currently affecting the members of our communities during COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information on potential financial frauds, see the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada website.
Where can I get up-to-date, credible information?
Our Government Resources and Updates page lists the most credible sources for up-to-date information on COVID-19 news regarding health, financial support, and translated news. If you receive a questionable call, email, texs, or offer, and suspect that it’s a scam, you can always check our Government Resources and Updates page for sources to confirm it.
More information
Learn more
All links are in English unless noted otherwise.
- The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has a dedicated section on COVID-19 frauds, as well as up-to-date bulletin alerts.
- If you or someone you know has encountered a COVID-19 scam, you can report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free).
- The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada COVID-19 has the latest updates and information on financial hardship and fraud support during COVID-19.
- The Canadian Bankers Association has a guide on how to spot phishing scams arising from COVID-19.
References
Pages are in order of appearance.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: COVID-19 fraud. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- Canadian Bankers Association: How to spot phishing scams arising from COVID‑19. Published March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- Government of British Columbia: COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions related to Provincial Orders. (Retrieved on May 27, 2020).
- Government of Canada: COVID-19: Scams, frauds and misleading claims. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- Health Canada
- Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19): List of hard-surface disinfectants. Retrieved on May 27, 2020.
- Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19): List of hand sanitizers authorized by Health Canada. Retrieved on May 27, 2020.