What to know
- The City of Toronto is warning residents about fraudulent websites impersonating the city and selling fake Toronto Island ferry tickets that leave buyers unable to board.
- Officials say the only legitimate place to purchase ferry tickets online is through the city’s official website, or in person at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
- Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead, as ferries run hourly with limited capacity and peak travel times are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. heading to the islands, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. returning.
- Throughout August, seniors, children, and youth can ride the ferry to Centre Island, Ward’s Island, and Hanlan’s Point for free, but they must still reserve tickets in advance due to limited availability.
As Toronto’s islands come to life during the summer season, the city is cautioning residents of impersonators selling fake ferry tickets online.
What’s the scam?
In a social media post on Sunday, the City of Toronto warned those looking to visit any of the three main islands to be careful of where they purchase tickets for the ferry.
They said they had seen multiple incidents reported about fraudulent websites pretending to be the city. The impersonators will then sell fake tickets for the ferry, leaving buyers unable to access the ferry when the slotted time comes around.
How to spot a scam
When buying tickets, always be sure to use trusted channels to verify requests for money, access or personal information. Never click links or open attachments from unsolicited texts or emails. Additionally, fake websites impersonating the city or anyone else will often have different web addresses than what’s expected.
Be sure to report any fraudulent websites you see to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Read more: https://nowtoronto.com/news/canadians-are-frustrated-with-scams-heres-how-to-protect-yourself/
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you buy a fraudulent ticket, it’s important to dispute the charge with your bank.
Victims can start by contacting their credit card company or bank, to ensure the charge is reversed.
Additionally, it’s good practice to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, call the non-emergency line to alert local police, and to also notify the City of Toronto.
How to buy tickets safely
The City of Toronto stated that the only place to buy ferry tickets online was through toronto.ca/ferry.
Additionally, island-goers can visit the in-person ticket kiosk at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queens Quay West. Tickets are around $9.57 for adults.
Ferries are hourly, and have limited capacity. Ferry schedules and other information can be found on the City of Toronto website.
Peak travel times are typically:
To the islands: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
From the islands: 5 to 9 p.m.
Additionally, the islands are accessible through water taxis, which are owned by private organizations but are reliable and trustworthy. A one-way ride ticket costs around $15 per person. Water taxi tickets can be purchased at 145/207 Queens Quay West and 5 Queens Quay West. Alternatively, tickets can be bought online on the Harbour Tours website.
Free ferry access
For the month of August, some residents won’t have to worry about spending money on a ferry ticket.
The entire month is set to give seniors, children and youth free of charge rides to Centre Island, Ward’s Island, and Hanlan’s Point.
While the fare will be free, tickets must still be purchased ahead of time, as spaces are limited.
