Toronto warns of fake ferry ticket scams after free August rides

The City of Toronto has issued a public alert about fraudulent websites that are selling counterfeit ferry tickets for the Toronto Islands. Residents are instructed to purchase tickets only through the official city portal (toronto.ca/ferry) to avoid losing money or exposing personal information.

The warning follows a council motion approved earlier in August that made ferry rides free for passengers under 20 and over 64 for the entire month. The initiative was presented as a celebration of the city’s “waterfront victory” over the provincial plan to expand Billy Bishop Airport and is being funded through Section 37 developer‑benefit contributions rather than taxpayer dollars. Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik highlighted the program’s community‑benefit purpose while emphasizing the need for vigilance against the ticket‑selling scams.