Rogers Customers Are Being Tricked Into Mailing Scammers Free iPads
A troubling scam is making the rounds among Rogers customers across Canada, and it's leaving victims on the hook for a $2,300 iPad they never intended to buy — and never got to keep.
Here's how it works: scammers contact Rogers customers posing as company representatives, convincing them they've qualified for a promotional offer. The victims are then unknowingly enrolled in a two-year iPad financing plan. The device gets shipped to the customer — and they're instructed to forward it along, believing it's part of some legitimate promotion or exchange program. By the time they realize what's happened, the iPad is gone and the bill is very real.
The Bill That Wasn't Supposed to Exist
For the customers caught up in this scam, the financial hit is significant. A two-year financing agreement for a $2,300 iPad isn't the kind of charge that quietly disappears from a monthly bill. Victims who've spoken out say they had no idea they'd signed up for anything — the scammers were convincing enough that the entire interaction felt legitimate.
Rogers has acknowledged the situation and offered some relief as a "goodwill gesture," but hasn't committed to fully reversing the charges for affected customers. That response has left many victims frustrated and feeling like they're being held responsible for a crime committed against them.
A Pattern Worth Knowing
This scam follows a broader playbook that consumer protection experts have flagged repeatedly: fraudsters impersonating telecom representatives to manipulate customers into actions that benefit the scammer. What makes this version particularly effective is the physical element — getting someone to mail a real device creates a sense of legitimacy that a purely digital scam often can't replicate.
Rogers isn't the only carrier whose customers have been targeted by telecom impersonation scams, but the specific iPad financing scheme appears to be gaining traction. Canadians who receive unexpected calls or messages claiming to be from their carrier — especially those involving "free" or promotional devices — are urged to hang up and call Rogers directly using the number on their bill or the official website.
How to Protect Yourself
A few simple rules can go a long way:
- Never forward a device you received in the mail without confirming the request directly with your carrier through official channels.
- Don't trust inbound calls claiming to offer promotions — call back using the number on your account statement.
- Check your bill immediately after any interaction with someone claiming to be from your telecom provider.
- Report suspicious contacts to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca.
If you're an Ottawa-area Rogers customer and you've received a suspicious call or noticed unexpected charges on your account, contact Rogers customer service and file a report with the CAFC.
Rogers' Response Falls Short for Many
The goodwill gesture Rogers has offered affected customers is unlikely to satisfy those facing a $2,300 charge for a device they never benefited from. Consumer advocates argue that when customers are scammed through a process tied to a company's own systems — in this case, a financing plan a representative enrolled them in — the carrier bears more responsibility than a one-time courtesy credit reflects.
The story is a reminder that even tech-savvy Canadians can be caught off guard by a well-executed social engineering attack. Stay skeptical, verify everything, and when in doubt — don't mail the iPad.
Source: CBC News
