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Keep health card info to yourself, OPP warn
Date: Mar 19, 2008
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Don't ever give out personal health information over the telephone, the OPP advise.

The Ontario Health Card contains important information about the cardholder and should only be used when the cardholder is accessing a medical service at a clinic, hospital or doctor's office.  

Doctors and pharmacists don't ask for health card information over the telephone.

As part of Fraud Prevention Month, the OPP Anti-Rackets Section, Health Fraud Investigation Unit is stressing the importance for Ontarians to protect their identity documents, and in particular their Ontario Health Card.

Fraudsters frequently use the telephone to access information about others, for the purpose of committing fraud-related crimes. You should never give out personal information to others over the phone or Internet unless you trust the source. Never should you give out your health card number over the phone.

Criminals have been known to steal health cards to access medical services to  which they are not entitled or to create a new identity to commit other frauds.

If you believe that someone has accessed your personal information for the purpose of identity theft, contact your local police or Phone Busters at 1-888-495-8501.
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