Scammers have reportedly been pretending to be Members of Parliament (MPs) on the messaging platform WhatsApp to deceive individuals into giving money in exchange for fake promises of accessing subsidized housing, according to a statement from one parliamentarian.
Ryan Turnbull, a Liberal MP who serves as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance, took to social media to warn the public about the scam. He disclosed that there have been reports of two fraudulent WhatsApp groups falsely claiming to provide housing or benefits while impersonating MPs.
Screenshots shared by Turnbull with CBC News revealed a WhatsApp account using his name and picture, offering access to housing under the guise of the program “Building Canada Home,” likely an attempt to exploit the name similarity with Build Canada Homes, the government’s housing agency.
Expressing his disapproval, Turnbull stated that such actions are deceptive, unlawful, and he strongly disapproves of them. He emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding housing availability and providing genuine assistance to Canadians, condemning any predatory behavior seeking to take advantage of individuals through scams and impersonation.
The fake WhatsApp profile directs users to a now inactive website that also featured Turnbull’s identity. Moreover, it links to WhatsApp groups posing as federal initiatives, such as “Canada Subsidized Housing Legal Handover Group” and “Canada’s Housing Plan.”
Another Liberal MP, Caroline Desrochers, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of housing, acknowledged being informed about an account impersonating her. Desrochers labeled these activities as financial scams and encouraged people to report any concerns to her office.
Both Turnbull and Desrochers have reported the fraudulent incidents to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Turnbull additionally informed that he reached out to Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, and confirmed that the company agreed to remove the counterfeit accounts.