Press Release
As part of Fraud Prevention Month, the OPP’s Anti-Rackets Section is stressing to everyone the importance of protecting all of their identity documents, particularly Ontario health cards.
The Ontario health card contains important information about the cardholder and only should be used when the cardholder is accessing a medical service at a clinic, hospital, or doctor’s office.
Fraudsters frequently use the telephone to access information about others for the purpose of committing fraud-related crimes.
You should never give out personal information to others over the phone or Internet unless you trust the source, and you should never give out your health card number over the phone.
Criminals have been known to steal health cards to access medical services to which they are not entitled or to create a new identity to commit other frauds.
If you believe someone has accessed your personal information for the purpose of identity theft, contact your local police or call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Call Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
Fraud—recognize it, report it, stop it!
