City of Ottawa warns of fake emails offering sports field reservations
Fraudulent emails posing as the City's Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services are offering teams a 'special priority offer' for field bookings. The City says to delete them and not click any links.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on ctvnews.ca.
The City of Ottawa is warning residents who book sports fields that fraudulent emails are circulating, CTV Ottawa reported on October 30.
The emails pose as the City's Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services and offer sports teams a "special priority offer" for field reservations, CTV reports. The City says a sign of a fake email is that it comes from a Gmail address, not an ottawa.ca address.
What to do
The City says to delete the email right away and not click any links in it.
Anyone who received one of these emails and shared personal or financial information should call Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222, CTV reports. Ottawa Police can be reached at that number for non-emergency reports. The warning from the City, as reported by CTV, does not name who is behind the emails.
How to book fields
Sports field reservations go through the City of Ottawa's official pages at ottawa.ca. Residents booking fields should use the City's own booking system rather than responding to any email offering a "special" deal or priority access.
The City's Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services department manages the booking of outdoor fields, parks and other facilities. CTV does not report how many teams or residents received the fake emails or when the City first became aware of them.
How to check if a City email is real
Residents who are not sure whether an email from the City is real should check the sender's address. City of Ottawa emails come from ottawa.ca addresses, not Gmail or other public email services. The City's general contact information and official booking system are at ottawa.ca.
Ottawa Police Service can be reached at 613-236-1222 for non-emergency matters. If you received one of these fake emails and did not share any information, the City's advice is to delete it. Report it to police only if personal or financial information was shared, according to CTV.
Questions this story answers
What do the fake sports field emails look like?
CTV Ottawa reports the emails pose as the City of Ottawa's Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services and offer sports teams a 'special priority offer' for field reservations. The City says a clear sign the email is fake is that it comes from a Gmail address rather than an ottawa.ca address.
What should I do if I received one of these fake emails?
The City says to delete the email right away and not click any links in it. If you already shared personal or financial information after receiving one, call Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222, according to CTV.
Is the City contacting teams by email about field reservations?
The City's warning implies it does not send unsolicited field reservation offers by email from Gmail addresses. Residents booking sports fields should go through the City's official channels at ottawa.ca. The warning from CTV does not say whether the City ever contacts teams by email through official channels.
Who is behind these fake emails?
CTV reports the City has not named who is behind the emails. The City's warning names no suspect and Ottawa Police have not published an arrest or charge related to this. The warning does not say how many teams or residents have received the fake emails or when the City first became aware of them.
What is the City of Ottawa's real email domain?
The City of Ottawa uses ottawa.ca email addresses for official communications. Any email about City services arriving from a Gmail address or any other address that does not end in ottawa.ca should be treated as suspicious. If you are unsure whether a message from the City is real, contact the City through its official website at ottawa.ca before taking any action.
How do I book a sports field in Ottawa through official channels?
The City of Ottawa's parks and recreation booking pages are at ottawa.ca. The City's warning, as reported by CTV, advises residents to use official City channels for field reservations rather than responding to unsolicited emails. Search for 'sports field booking' on the City's website to find the current booking system.
When was the City's warning published?
CTV Ottawa reported the City's warning on October 30, 2026. The CTV article is at ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/city-of-ottawa-warns-of-fake-sports-field-reservation-offer-emails/. The City had not issued a separate press release that CTV cited, so the CTV article is the primary source for this warning.
Where can I report a scam or fraud in Ottawa?
If you shared personal or financial information after receiving a suspicious email like this one, call Ottawa Police Service at 613-236-1222, according to CTV's report of the City's warning. For non-emergency fraud reports in Ottawa, you can also reach Ottawa Police through their website at ottawapolice.ca.
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