Canadians Lose $17M to Cell Phone Scam
A sophisticated scam impersonating telecom providers like Rogers has already cost Canadians over $17 million in the first six months of 2026, with one victim losing over $4,000
A cell phone delivery scam is continuing to defraud Canadians, with reported losses of over $17 million in the first six months of 2026, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The scam involves fraudsters impersonating telecom providers, including Rogers, and convincing victims to provide personal and financial information.
One victim, B.C. resident Jeannie Moss, was scammed out of over $4,000 by fraudsters impersonating Rogers. Moss was convinced to provide her driver's license to confirm a fake order for a mobile device upgrade. She received a prepaid shipping label to return a device, which she believed was from Rogers.
Moss's experience with the scam was particularly egregious. She received two devices after returning the first one, and was instructed to courier them back with a prepaid shipping label. Additionally, someone took out a loan in Moss's name with Affirm, a buy now pay later lending company, for over $2,500.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has reported that the cell phone delivery scam is spreading across Canada. The centre's data shows that the scam is one of the more prominent types of service fraud, with over $17 million in reported losses in just six months.
## Why it matters The scam highlights the importance of being cautious when dealing with unsolicited phone calls or messages, especially those that ask for personal or financial information. The fact that the scam is spreading across Canada and has already cost Canadians millions of dollars makes it a significant concern for consumers. The lack of support Moss received from Rogers when she contacted them about the scam also raises questions about the responsibility of telecom providers to protect their customers from such scams.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's warning about the scam serves as a reminder to Canadians to be vigilant and to verify the identity of anyone who contacts them claiming to be from a telecom provider. As the scam continues to spread, it is essential for consumers to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect themselves from falling victim to it.
