No, your Alberta health card isn’t ‘obsolete’ — ignore text messages saying otherwise

The Alberta government is warning residents about scam text messages claiming physical health cards are becoming obsolete.

Provincial officials are warning people not to fall for a text message claiming their health card is “obsolete” — and asking them to transition to an electronic health system.

The scam message, which purports to come from Service Canada, states that under new “Health Canada regulatory obligation,” all citizens must transition to the “Electronic Health Identification System.”

The fraudulent text goes on to say, “records indicate your current physical health card was issued prior to January 2023 and is now classified as obsolete.”

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The scam text says to ensure uninterrupted access to health-care services, a replacement is required — and encourages the receiver to complete an online application, with a link attached.

Shirley Ann Sedgwick, 87, says she received the text on Tuesday morning.

“I immediately had concerns because I’m going on holidays. Needless to say, I had great concerns about my health coverage while I’m away.”

Sedgwick said she called Alberta Health Services to confirm if it was true, but their phone lines were busy.

“You know, you panic a little bit when you’re leaving on holidays,” she said.

Eventually, Sedgwick was able to get a hold of someone who confirmed the text was fake.

“I’m really concerned that some people are going to be caught on it,” she said.

In a statement to CTV News, the province says it will never send unsolicited text messages asking for Albertans’ personal or financial information.

“Fraudsters are one of the worst types of people in the world,” said Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally. “These texts are scams and should be ignored.”

If you receive a text like this, you’re warned not to click any links.

In addition, don’t provide personal or financial information.

Instead, delete the text.

Albertans who believe their personal or financial information has been compromised should contact local police and their financial institution.

“Health Canada confirms that the text message in question is fraudulent,” said a statement from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

“The Government of Canada does not ask Canadians to enrol in electronic health identification systems.”

BBB alert issued

On Wednesday, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued an alert about the text.

“This is another phishing scam that every Albertan should be aware of,” spokesperson Mary O’Sullivan-Andersen said in a news release.

“There is often clear indicators of phony texts. In this case, it says it’s official communication from the government of Canada. Health is a provincial jurisdiction,” she said.

“Another indication is an email address attached to the text which is from a large private email provider.”

The BBB asks anyone who receives the text to delete it and not engage with the sender.