Rogers customers are getting hit with thousands of dollars in equipment fees after falling for a slick fraud scheme where scammers pose as telecom reps to trick people into mailing brand new devices straight to criminals.
It usually starts with a phone call offering something tempting, like a discounted plan bundled with a free tablet. In several cases reported to police, the fraudsters used the official Rogers app or asked for photos of government ID to quietly set up legitimate financing agreements in the victim’s name.
Once the iPad shows up at the customer’s door, the scammers call back claiming there’s been a billing error or a mix-up with the promotion. They send over a pre-paid return label and ask the customer to ship the device back. The catch is that label goes to a private home in Brampton or Edmonton, not a Rogers return centre. Ouch.
Victims usually find out they’ve been had when the monthly bills start arriving for financing and data plans they never meant to sign up for. In some cases, the total owing for the missing hardware has topped $2,300.
Rogers spokesperson Christina Salituro told CBC News the company includes physical notes in every shipping box and sends email warnings telling customers never to mail a device anywhere other than an official Rogers location. She also noted Rogers employees will never call to request a device return.
Some victims have received small goodwill credits and had certain fees waived, but many are still on the hook for the full cost of the stolen iPads and they’re not happy about it.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre says this type of scam is becoming more common. What makes it effective is the patience behind it. Unlike most fraud that leans on pressure tactics, this one actually delivers real hardware first, which makes the whole thing feel legitimate until it’s too late.
How to avoid getting scammed? Never answer the phone, never reply to unknown texts and never click any links in email or text messages. No one can be trusted nowadays. You need to call back directly to companies and ask if they offered you a deal or reached out to you.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
Thanks for reporting.