Mar 31, 2026
If you’re one of the many Canadians who applied for their slice of the Canadian bread price-fixing settlement and have been checking your phone for updates, you’re not alone. But before you click that latest notification, you should know that scammers are currently trying to steal pieces of your personal data.
Since March 1, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) has received nine reports of text phishing linked to the $500-million class-action settlement (1). While nine reports may sound low, the CAFC notes that it typically only receives five to 10% of actual fraud reports.
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"It's safe to say that nine reports is only a small percentage of what is actually circulating," a CAFC spokesperson told CBC News.
Red flags in your inbox
The scam usually arrives as a text message from various Canadian area codes, including 902 and 306. These messages urge recipients to "verify" their eligibility or claim their share of the settlement before a fake April 1 deadline.
Elizabeth Haddock, a resident of Mono, ON, nearly fell for the ruse after signing up for the legitimate settlement months ago. She followed a link to a professional-looking website that promised her a payout of $182.
"It looked so legitimate," Haddock said. "It mentioned facts about the price-fixing issue, and the rebate, and walked you through the steps."
The illusion shattered when the site asked for her credit card information to "process" the refund. "That was a major red flag for me," she said.
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The truth about the payout process
Jay Strosberg of Strosberg Wingfield Sasso LLP, the firm behind the Ontario class action, has been blunt about the situation.
"This is fraud," Strosberg confirmed to CBC.
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His firm is now working with the RCMP and the CAFC to issue takedown requests for these fraudulent domains. However, as soon as one site is shuttered, another often appears using a slight variation of the official URL.
To stay safe, keep these three facts in mind:
- The deadline has passed: The claims process for the national settlement involving Loblaw Companies Ltd. and George Weston Ltd. closed on Dec. 12, 2025. You cannot file a new claim now.
- No texts allowed: The official settlement administrator, Verita, is not using SMS to contact claimants. "No text messages will be sent to you," the official website states.
- No credit cards required: A legitimate settlement will never ask for your credit card or debit card number to send you money.
Official sources only
Payments are expected to begin in April via e-transfer or cheque for those who successfully filed before the December deadline. If you are looking for status updates, only use the verified portals:
- National Settlement (excluding Quebec): canadianbreadsettlement.ca
- Quebec Settlement: breadsettlement.ca
If you receive a suspicious text, the CAFC advises against responding or clicking any links. Instead, report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CBC News (1)
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Leslie Kennedy served as an editor at Thomson Reuters and for Star Media Group, followed by a number of years as a writer and editor and content manager in marketing communications, before returning to her editorial roots. She is a graduate of Humber College’s post-graduate journalism program and has been a professional writer and editor ever since.
