Alberta Health Services and law enforcement are warning residents about a health-care card phishing scam in which fraudsters send fake text messages claiming that recipients must renew or replace their health-care card. The messages typically include a malicious link designed to steal personal and financial information.
Officials are urging Albertans not to click on any links, reply to the messages, or provide personal details such as banking information, passwords, or health card numbers. Anyone who receives one of these texts should delete it immediately and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre if personal information has been shared.
Authorities emphasized that Alberta Health Services and Alberta Health do not request sensitive personal or financial information through unsolicited text messages. Residents are encouraged to verify any health-care-related communication through official government channels rather than responding to unexpected messages.
The warning comes as Alberta continues rolling out changes to health cards and identification documents, a situation scammers may exploit to make fraudulent messages appear more convincing. Officials are reminding the public to remain vigilant and protect their personal information from identity theft.
Cybersecurity experts say phishing scams remain one of the most common forms of online fraud in Canada. They recommend checking official government websites directly instead of using links sent by text or email, enabling multi-factor authentication where possible, and reporting suspicious messages to help prevent others from becoming victims.