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Online passport scam: charges laid against fake passport services

The Competition Bureau has laid criminal charges against websites that posed as official Government of Canada passport services.

Vieauqc TeamAugust 13, 2026

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Charges laid. On July 28, 2026, the Competition Bureau of Canada announced that multiple criminal charges had been laid against two Ontario individuals, John Jesse Breslin and Phoebe Hui Ting Wong, as reported in the Bureau's news release. They operated a business under the names Passport Online and Passport Express.

How the scam worked. The pair used a website and online advertisements that led customers to believe they were dealing directly with the Government of Canada to obtain or renew their passports quickly. That was not the case. The charges relate to misleading marketing, fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime, for alleged offences between 2016 and 2020.

Charges, not convictions. The Bureau notes that these individuals are presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise. The investigation was conducted with help from the Toronto Police Service, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Better Business Bureau.

How to protect yourself. Official passport services are only offered on Government of Canada addresses (domains ending in gc.ca), such as Canada.ca and Service Canada Centres. No private website can speed up your passport application for a fee. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, report it to your local police or through the "Report Cybercrime and Fraud" website mentioned in the release.

Good to know for newcomers: "official" websites that charge money to speed up government procedures are a classic warning sign. For a passport, only the Government of Canada processes applications. Before you pay anyone, check the website's domain: an official Canadian address always ends in gc.ca.

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