AI-generated impersonations, online scams are becoming increasingly convincing
From fake hospital bills and appointment reminders to AI-generated impersonations, online scams are becoming increasingly convincing. Oak Valley Health (OVH) experts share practical tips to help you recognize the warning signs and protect your personal information.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, identity fraud was the most common type of fraud in Canada in 2025. Canadians reported more than $704 million in losses related to fraud that year.
“Your personal and health information is valuable, and scammers may use convincing messages to get access to it,” says Jasmina Germanski, Director of Enterprise Risk and Resilience at OVH.
Scammers may impersonate hospitals, health care providers, banks, or government departments and agencies through fake appointment reminders, hospital bills, test result notifications, or urgent payment requests. These messages may look legitimate and pressure recipients to click a link, share sensitive information, or make a payment.
“As technology becomes an increasingly important part of our daily lives, cybercriminals continue to find new ways to exploit it,” says Felix Zhang, Vice President of Digital Health and Chief Information Officer at OVH. “Taking simple steps, such as enabling multi-factor authentication, can make a real difference in protecting your personal information.”
To protect yourself from phishing, avoid clicking unexpected links or opening unfamiliar attachments. Be cautious of urgent requests for payment or personal information, and verify suspicious messages through a separate, trusted channel. If you’re unsure whether it’s legitimate, verify it using contact information from OVH’s official website for Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH), Uxbridge Hospital and the Reactivation Care Centre.
OVH may contact patients by phone, email, or text with appointment reminders, care information, or invitations to complete patient experience surveys. The organization will also soon introduce an AI agent to support appointment scheduling by phone and text message.
The MSH Foundation will also be out in the community this holiday season to promote its monthly donor program at CF Markville Mall. New donors will be contacted via email or text message with consent.
If you receive a message that appears to be from OVH or MSH Foundation, confirm that it relates to an appointment, recent visit, or donation. A legitimate message should not ask you to share sensitive information or make an urgent payment through an unfamiliar link.
Health information is sensitive and sharing it publicly can put your privacy at risk. Use trusted, secure communication channels when sharing health information and think carefully before posting medical details on social media or public forums.
“Photos shared casually can reveal more than intended,” Germanski explains. “Ultrasound images, test results, and other medical documents may contain identifying details, such as your name, date of birth, or health card number.”
For information about how your health and donor information is used and protected, visit OVH’s and MSH Foundation’s privacy webpages.