The Saanich Police Department want to caution residents of Saanich, of a scam that is starting to resurface. The scam involves online companies providing a false claim of speeding up the passport process, for a fee.
When applying for a Canadian passport, it’s important to know:
No third party can speed up the process
Only passport service locations collect passport fees
Passport applications are available free of charge
If you have been a victim of this scam you should gather all information about the fraud and contact your local Police Agency. You should also contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at www.antifraudcentre.ca.
“If you’re in urgent need of a passport, there are legitimate ways to obtain express service.” A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie said. “There are a number of other issues that go along with this fraud including giving out your personal information.”
If you’ve handed out your personal information to a fraudulent third party you could become the victim of identity fraud. You should contact both credit bureaus, Equifax and Transunion, and place a flag on your account.
If you have questions about the passport process, only deal with government of Canada. This information is available free of charge at the Passport Office and via the Government of Canada website at www.Canada.ca.
A/Sgt. Jereme Leslie
SPD File 17-04200 refers