Ontario police warn of Rogers phone upgrade scam

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and other Canadian law enforcement agencies are warning Rogers and Fido customers about a sophisticated phone delivery scam. Scammers pose as company representatives, offering fake loyalty deals or plan upgrades to convince victims to order new devices through their legitimate accounts.

Once the actual hardware arrives at the victim's home, the scammers contact the customer again, claiming a mistake was made with the shipment, such as the wrong model or color being sent. They then provide a fraudulent return label via email. The victim ships the device to the scammer instead of the provider, leaving the customer responsible for the full cost of the device.

Reports indicate victims have faced charges ranging from approximately $2,300 for tablets to over $4,000 for multiple iPhones. The scam is particularly effective because the initial order is placed through the victim's real account, making the interaction appear authentic.