Torontonians, Beware of ‘Phone Scammers’: Toronto Police Issue Alert.

Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has issued a public advisory warning residents about an ongoing scam where fraudsters impersonate telecommunications representatives, leaving victims with thousands of dollars in cellphone charges.

According to TPS, the city has seen an increasing number of reported incidents involving this scam.

Here’s how the scam works: 

1. Victims receive a phone call from a scammer pretending to be from a cellphone provider.
2. The caller often knows the victim’s personal account and billing information.
3. The caller offers a heavily discounted or free cellphone, smartwatch, or tablet, claiming the deal is only available to loyal customers.
4. The caller guides the victim through placing a legitimate order on the official cellphone provider’s website or app.
5. Once the device arrives at the victim’s home, the scammer calls again, claiming there was a mistake, such as sending the wrong model.
6. The victim is informed that the correct item will be mailed to them.
7. The scammer then emails or sends the victim a prepaid shipping label, asking them to return the item.
8. The address on the shipping label is usually a random or third-party address, unrelated to the scammer.
9. The item is delivered to this address, where the scammer retrieves it without the homeowner’s knowledge or permission. Many victims don’t know the package was ever delivered.
10. In some cases, a legitimate courier company may pick up the item from the victim (the courier is unaware of the scam).
11. Ultimately, the victim is left financially responsible for a phone and plan they legitimately ordered through the website or app.
12. In some instances, telecommunications providers have declined to remove the charges because the devices were delivered to the victim but not returned directly to the company.

A recent investigation by Toronto police led to a search warrant, an arrest, and the recovery of numerous new cellphones and other electronic devices worth tens of thousands of dollars. Police did not release details about the arrest or the identity of the individual taken into custody.

How to Protect Yourself:

While this scam can be difficult to detect, TPS recommends several steps to help Torontonians protect themselves:   

1.       Be cautious of unsolicited calls offering heavily discounted plans, free phones, or account upgrades. Do not trust the number displayed on caller ID, as it may have been manipulated.  
2.   Do not provide personal information, account details, passwords, PINs, or verification codes to unsolicited callers.  
3.   If you receive an unsolicited call with ‘tempting deals,’ hang up and independently contact your telecommunications provider using contact information from their official website or your company bill.  
4.   Confirm any account changes directly with your provider before accepting offers, keeping a device, or returning a shipment.  
5.   If you unexpectedly receive a cellphone, contact your provider immediately to obtain written confirmation of the correct return address and procedures.  
6.   Anyone who believes their telecommunications account has been accessed or altered without authorization should contact their provider right away and keep all relevant correspondence and shipping information.
7.   They should also report the incident to the police by calling Crime Stoppers anonymously at (416) 222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting 222tips.com to submit a tip online.  

For further information, contact Toronto Police on 416-808-2222.

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