Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

COVID-19 Fraud Alert!

December 18, 2020: The CAFC has received reports on scams and frauds linked to COVID-10 vaccines.  Do not buy COVID-10 vaccines online or from unauthorized sources.  The only way to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority in collaboration with Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments. 

Refer to Government of Canada COVID-19 health, financial and security resources and if you have questions about getting vaccinated, contact your family physician or local health care providers.

Protect yourself, beware of:

• Potential counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines New
  • Private companies selling fraudulent products that claim to treat or prevent the disease
  • Unapproved drugs threaten public health and violate federal laws
• Coronavirus-themed emails and COVID-19 vaccination themed emails that are trying to: New
  • trick you into opening malicious attachments
  • trick you to reveal sensitive personal and financial details
• Unsolicited calls claiming to be from a private company or health care providers offering home vaccination kits for an up-front fee New
• Private companies offering fast COVID-19 tests for sale New
  • Only official health care providers can perform the tests
  • No other tests are genuine or guaranteed to provide accurate results
• Questionable third-party companies offer to help you fill out applications, such as CERB
• Criminals using your identity to sign-up for CERB and receive payments
• Spoofed government, healthcare or research information
• Unsolicited calls, emails and texts requesting urgent action or payment and/or offering medical advice, financial relief, or government assistance and compensation
  • If you didn’t initiate contact, you don’t know who you’re communicating to
  • Never respond or click on suspicious links and attachments
  • 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
  • These items may be expired and/or dangerous to your health
• Questionable offers, such as:
  • miracle cures
  • herbal remedies
  • vaccinations
  • faster testing
• Fake and deceptive online ads, including:
  • cleaning products
  • hand sanitizers
  • other items in high demand

Reported scams

Fraudsters are posing as:

• Phishing, spear phishing and malicious links sent from a familiar email address or text message New
  • An email containing links or content related to COVID-19 vaccines and once you click on them it freezes your computer, makes you call a toll-free number and then they demand money from you to unfreeze your account
• Phone calls offering home vaccination kits New
  • A phone call from someone claiming to work for a pharmaceutical company and offering a “6 shot vaccine system” which you receive by mail after paying large sums of money
• 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
• 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
  • selling fraudulent products that claim to treat or prevent the disease
    • Unapproved drugs threaten public health and violate federal laws
  • Offering assistance with filling out CERB applications for a fee

Trusted resources and advice

• Refer to Government of Canada COVID-19 health, financial and security resources
• Refer to Financial Consumer Agency of Canada COVID-19 information
• Reference the latest health information from these legitimate sources:
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Public Health Agency of Canada)
  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak (World Health Organization)
• Contact your insurance provider to answer any health insurance questions
• Make sure you have anti-virus software installed and keep your operating system up to date
• Refer to the Government of Canada webpages on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit
• Report any unauthorized credit applications to the associated financial institution and the credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion