Consumer Alert

Toronto woman 'horrified' after losing $95,000 to romance scam

Romance scams have always been around, but they got worse during the pandemic, and fraudsters continue to use social media and dating sites to find victims.

Ontario man says new truck had catalytic converter stolen at dealership

New insurance data shows catalytic converter theft continues to be a huge problem that is showing no signs of slowing down.

According to the Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, theft of catalytic convertors rose 60 per cent over the past year, and a whopping 1,700 per cent between 2018 and 2022. (CTV News Toronto)

Ontario man says medication he's been taking for a decade just quadrupled in price

An Ontario man with a genetic disorder said he was shocked when he got his latest prescription filled for a medication he has been taking for the past ten years.

An Ontario man says an essential medication he takes has quadrupled in price.

Instagram and Facebook to charge monthly fees for verified accounts

Meta is testing a verification program that will charge users on Facebook and Instagram monthly paid subscription fees to have verified accounts.

'I wanted to cry': Ontario woman to pay nearly $9,000 in damage to uninsured parked car

An Ontario woman is on the hook for nearly $9,000 in damages after her uninsured car was hit while stored in a parking lot.

How often should you wash your clothes? These are the top mistakes

Even though people may be doing five loads of laundry a week, there is a chance they are doing it wrong.

Looking for a side hustle? Don't get caught in an employment scam

An Ontario woman was hoping to earn extra money working a side hustle to help her deal with the rising costs of living, but ended up getting caught in an online employment scam.

Gas prices in southern Ontario to spike to the highest level in months

Drivers can expect to pay more at the pumps this summer as gas prices reach levels not seen since November 2022.

Ontario student pays nearly $3K for extended warranty on used luxury car, surprised repairs aren't covered

An Ontario student paid nearly $3K for an extended warranty on a used luxury car, only to be told an emissions repair was not covered.

Pat Foran

Pat Foran is an award-winning videojournalist with CTV News Toronto and the host of the station’s popular feature segment “Consumer Alert”.

In this role, Foran has helped consumers recover millions of dollars, exposed scams, warned about unsafe products, and passed on countless money saving tips to the public. The thousands of phone calls, e-mails, and letters he receives prove there is an intense public interest in solid, trustworthy consumer information.

Prior to his role as CTV Toronto’s consumer advocate, Foran worked as a reporter for three different CTV affiliates, beginning in 1986.

Foran is also the author of four national bestselling books on consumer and financial issues. His latest, The Smart, Savvy Young Consumer, is designed to help young Canadians spend and save wisely.

Have a story tip for Pat? Email alert@ctv.ca