TL;DR: On July 28, 2026, the Competition Bureau announced charges against two Ontario residents over a business that operated as “Passport Online” and “Passport Express”. The charges were laid on July 15, 2026 and relate to alleged conduct from 2016 to 2020. These are charges only; no wrongdoing has been determined.

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What happened

The Competition Bureau says the owner and a manager face deceptive marketing under the Competition Act, fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime. The charges were laid by York Regional Police on behalf of the Bureau before the Ontario Court of Justice.

The pair allegedly used a website and online ads that suggested Canadians could quickly and easily get or renew passports online, and made people believe they were dealing directly with the Government of Canada for “expedited passport services”, which was not the case.

The release does not state dollar amounts or the number of victims. Toronto Police assisted, and the investigation used information from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the Better Business Bureau.

Why it works

A professional-looking site and a search ad make a middleman look like the government. Passport applications are urgent and unfamiliar enough that people click the first result.

The Bureau’s advice is to be cautious of online passport services that are not clearly the official Government of Canada channel.

Background: our explainers on spear phishing and advance fee fraud. See also New Brunswick Man Gets 22 Months for Billing as Defunct Firm and Cell Phone Return Scam: Nanaimo RCMP Warns of Fake Labels.

What the Competition Bureau advises

If you have already sent money

Call your bank or card issuer at once and ask to stop or recall the payment, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501) and your local police. Our guides on reporting to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadian bank impersonation scams and how to reverse a wire transfer scam walk through the steps, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the first 24 hours. Scammers often start with details taken from past leaks, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is already exposed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has been charged?

Two Ontario residents, the owner and a manager of a business operating as Passport Online and Passport Express, face charges laid on July 15, 2026. They are allegations only.

What are the charges?

Deceptive marketing under the Competition Act, fraud over $5,000 and possession of proceeds of crime under the Criminal Code.

What was the alleged deception?

Ads suggested people were dealing directly with the Government of Canada for expedited passport services.

Where do I complain about a deceptive service?

File a complaint with the Competition Bureau online, and report fraud to local police or through the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website.

Sources

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