Online Canadian passport scam reported in Ontario

Two people face multiple charges in connection with an online Canadian passport scam in Ontario.

A Competition Bureau Canada investigation into two companies, Passport Online and Passport Express, led to the charges, the bureau said in a press release today.

The companies allegedly used a website and online advertisements to mislead Canadians into believing they were dealing directly with the Government of Canada for expedited passport services, when this was not the case, the bureau said.

Passport Online and Passport Express allegedly suggested that Canadians could quickly and easily obtain or renew Canadian passports online.

The frauds occurred between 2016 and 2020, the news release states.

On July 22, York Regional Police laid criminal charges on behalf of the Competition Bureau against York Region residents John Jesse Breslin and Phoebe Hui Ting Wong before the Ontario Court of Justice.

The Competition Bureau did not release the ages of the two people charged.

The bureau said Breslin was the owner and main decision-maker of the company and Wong was a manager.

Both have been charged under the deceptive marketing provisions of the Competition Act for promoting the service using false or misleading representations. In addition, both individuals face charges under the Criminal Code for fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime in connection with the scam.

The charges have not been tested in court.

The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Toronto Police Service and included information obtained from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Better Business Bureau.

“Deceiving consumers has significant impacts, with Canadians continuing to lose money to scams and other deceptive practices. The Competition Bureau is taking action to stop those who use misleading tactics to take Canadians’ hard-earned money,” said Jeanne Pratt, interim commissioner of competition.

The Competition Bureau encourages anyone who suspects deceptive or anti-competitive activities to file a complaint online.

Anyone who is aware of or has experienced a fraud should contact their local police or report it to the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website.