Nurse Leslie Warner was shocked when she was brought to the local RCMP detachment in Fernie, B.C., in 2022 and accused of involvement in a social security fraud case linked to Alberta. At that time, she underwent fingerprinting and had her photo taken.
Warner emphasized that she was a victim of identity theft and had not committed the alleged fraud. She explained to the authorities that someone had assumed her identity without her permission. The imposter gained access to her Canada Revenue Agency account in 2020 and submitted a fraudulent tax return in Alberta, falsely designating tax preparation company H&R Block as her authorized representative.
Despite Warner never authorizing H&R Block to file her taxes, her identity had been misused for years, causing distress and uncertainty about the security of her CRA account.
Investigations by The Fifth Estate revealed that Warner’s personal information was part of a significant data breach involving thousands of employees of Interior Health, a British Columbia agency managing hospitals in the southeastern region. Although it is uncertain how many individuals fell victim to fraud using this stolen data, the breach compromised sensitive details, including social insurance numbers.
An anonymous source provided The Fifth Estate with a list of stolen identities, allegedly obtained from the dark web. The source claimed that the data, including personal information of more than 28,000 British Columbians, was sold multiple times.
Several individuals from the stolen list, all associated with Interior Health, confirmed the accuracy of the information. The breach, spanning from 2003 to 2009, included crucial details such as social insurance numbers, addresses, and birthdates.
The stolen identities were reportedly used to facilitate fraudulent activities like obtaining fake CRA refunds and unauthorized loans. The victims expressed concerns about potential fraud and the misuse of their personal information.
Individuals affected by the breach have been urged to reach out for assistance if they suspect their identity has been compromised. The ongoing investigation aims to uncover the extent of the breach and hold the perpetrators accountable.
