The Medicare Card Scam: Why Criminals Want Your Health Card Number

Your Ontario health card number (OHIP card) is more valuable to criminals than you might think. Combined with your name and date of birth — information that is often easy to find — it can be used to steal your identity, create fraudulent health claims, or as a key piece of information needed to access your financial accounts.

How the scam works

A caller claims to be from OHIP, the Ontario Ministry of Health, or your local health unit. They say your health card is expiring, there is an error on your file, or you are owed a refund. To fix it, they need to verify your card number, date of birth, and sometimes your address.

• OHIP will never call you asking for your health card number — they already have it.
• Legitimate health card renewals happen by mail, not by phone.
• No government health agency will offer you a refund by phone.

When sharing your health card number is legitimate

• In person at your doctor's office, pharmacy, or hospital.
• Online through your doctor's official patient portal (one you set up yourself).
• Never over the phone, never in response to an email, never to a caller you did not initiate contact with.