A new scam website, healthdoc.ca, is using AI to generate fake profiles of real family doctors and healthcare providers both locally and nationally, including providers who are members of the Hamilton Family Health Team.
Do not enter your information, including personal details, health details, or credit card numbers, into healthdoc.ca. Your family doctor will never ask you for upfront payment to book an appointment. If you are ever unsure about whether a website linked to your healthcare provider is real, always call that provider first to confirm.
The best way to protect yourself is to know the signs of a scam. In this case, some of the signs that this website is a scam are:
- All photos of healthcare providers are blurred
- There are many advertisements on the website for external companies
- The text is generic and repeats for every healthcare provider
- The website is asking for personal and financial information in order to book an appointment
Learn more about spotting scams and fraud from the Government of Canada.