Question 1

What is the "Fake Official Ottawa Tourism Booking Sites" scam in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Fraudulent websites impersonating Ottawa Tourism and the National Capital Commission appear in search results and sponsored social media ads, selling discounted "Ottawa Experience Passes" bundling Rideau Canal skating rentals, Ottawa Locks boat tours, and Parliament Hill guided visits. None of the tours exist; victims pay via credit card and receive a booking confirmation from an unofficial email address. The NCC and Parliament Hill guided tours are free or low-cost government services. Book all Ottawa tourism activities through official government channels: ncc-ccn.gc.ca for canal and parkway programs, tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca for Parliament Hill tours, or directly with named operators listed on ottawatourism.ca. Parliament Hill tours are free — any "fee" for entry is a red flag.

Question 2

What is the "Phishing Emails Targeting Government Employee Visitors" scam in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Ottawa receives a high volume of business travelers visiting federal government offices and Crown corporations. Phishing emails posing as Ottawa hotel chains, federal parking permit services, or Conference Board of Canada registration systems are sent to attendees of public-sector conferences, harvesting corporate and personal payment details. The scam exploits the expectation of official-looking emails in a government-heavy city. Verify hotel or conference registration emails by navigating directly to the official website rather than clicking email links. Government buildings and conference facilities near Place du Portage and the Shaw Centre will never ask for credit card details via email for building access or parking.

Online Scams in Ottawa

Fake Official Ottawa Tourism Booking Sites

Phishing Emails Targeting Government Employee Visitors

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