Recognize a scam – Scams and fraud - CRA
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Report a scam or identity theft
Beware of tax schemes
Know how to recognize a scam and the reasons why the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) may need to contact you.
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Warning signs of a scam
Scammers often contact you pretending to be from the CRA. Know when to be suspicious.
The CRA will not:
- Demand or pressure immediate payment by:
- Interac® e-transfer
- Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin)
- Prepaid credit cards
- Gift cards from any type of retailer
- Threaten to deport or arrest you, or put you in prison
- Use aggressive or threatening language
- Set up an in-person meeting in a public location to collect a payment
- Charge a fee to speak with a call centre agent
- Ask for personal or financial information in a voicemail or email
Why the CRA may contact you
The CRA may contact you by phone, automated message, letter, or email.
If you receive a phone call or an automated message
The CRA may ask you for:
- Personal information to verify your identity, including your name, date of birth, or Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Details or additional information needed for your tax account, such as, receipts or supporting documents
- Tax returns you have not filed
- Financial information, such as, your bank's name and location
If you have a debt with the CRA, we may:
- Ask you to pay any amount owing, using the CRA's payment options
- Notify you about possible legal actions to recover unpaid debts
The CRA notifies you when your:
- Tax return is being reviewed
- Recent GST/HST registration is being reviewed
- GST/HST registration requirement is being reviewed
- CRA user ID and password have been revoked
- Notice of assessment or reassessment is sent
- Audit process is being initiated
The CRA may contact you to offer a service:
- Free tax help for your small business through the Liaison Officer service
- Support to help people access benefits and credits
If you receive an automated telephone message
The CRA may call using an automated telephone message system as a courtesy reminder for:
- Income tax and benefit return filing
- Paying taxes by required quarterly instalments
- Filing and payment deadlines if you are a business with a new GST/HST account
The automated system only gives a message and does not include or ask for personal taxpayer information.
If you receive a letter
The CRA may ask you for:
- Personal information to verify your identity, including your name, date of birth, or Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Details or additional information needed for your tax account, such as, receipts or supporting documents
- Tax returns you have not filed
- Financial information, such as, your bank's name and location
If you have a debt with the CRA, we may:
- Ask you to pay any amount owing, using the CRA's payment options
- Notify you about possible legal actions to recover unpaid debts
The CRA notifies you when your:
- Tax return is being reviewed
- Recent GST/HST registration is being reviewed
- GST/HST registration requirement is being reviewed
- CRA user ID and password have been revoked
- Notice of assessment or reassessment is sent
- Audit process is being initiated
The CRA may contact you to offer a service:
- Free tax help for your small business through the Liaison Officer service
- Support to help people access benefits and credits
If you receive an email
The CRA will only send you emails in 2 situations:
- You've registered for email notifications and have a new message to view in your CRA online accounts
- You've asked for a CRA link, form, or publication be sent during a meeting or call with an agent
Emails you receive from the CRA will not:
- Be from a specific user
- Ask you to reply to the email
- Include a link asking you to enter personal or financial information
If you receive a text or instant message
The CRA only sends text messages for multi-factor authentication for all of its sign-in services and if you enrolled with the telephone option.
The CRA will not use text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
Latest scams alerts
Find details and examples of some of the latest benefit and tax-related scams. You can view all scams or use the filter to find a specific scam type.
Filter by scam type options
Scam type options: out of
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Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security scam
Scam type: Text message
Description
Fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the CRA regarding a line from the taxpayer’s most recent tax assessment, asking the taxpayer to respond “Y” for yes to resolve the issue. The text message scam then sends the recipient a fake CPP-related hyperlink, which takes them to a realistic impersonation of the CRA and banking websites, asking for personal information to sign in to the fraudulent website.
What to do
- Do not provide any personal or financial information
- Do not click the link or reply to the message
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Canada Carbon Rebate scam
Scam type: Text message
Description
A text message claiming to be the CRA has a link to the Canada Carbon Rebate. It may include images copied from Government of Canada social media accounts.
What to do
- Do not click on the link or reply to the message
Refer to CRA's information: Canada Carbon Rebate
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Messages containing personal information
Scam type: Text message
Description
Message claiming to be the CRA, requests a payment or contains a link. It contains personal information such as, your name, date of birth, or Social Insurance Number.
What to do
- Do not provide any personal or financial information
- Do not click the link or reply to the message
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Emergency or disaster benefit scam
Scam types: Text message | Email | Instant message
Description
Message claiming to be the CRA with a link to emergency benefits. Targeting people who are impacted by emergencies or disasters.
What to do
- Do not click on the link or reply to the message
Refer to ESDC's information: Help for individuals affected by hazardous weather and natural disasters
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Grocery Rebate scam
Scam types: Text message | Email
Description
Message with a link, claiming to be the CRA about the Grocery Rebate.
What to do
- Do not click on the link or reply to the message
Refer to CRA's information: Grocery Rebate
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Cryptocurrency scam
Scam type: Phone call
Description
Claiming to work for the CRA, the scammer calls requesting money be transferred by cryptocurrency to cancel an RCMP warrant for your arrest. Pretending to be the RCMP, the scammer calls back to instruct you to transfer money from your bank account to cancel the arrest warrant. They promise to return your money once your name is cleared. The scammer provides phone numbers and passwords to deposit money into a local coin machine or cryptocurrency terminal.
What to do
- Do not provide any personal or financial information
- Hang up if the caller requests money
- Verify the caller is from the CRA
Refer to CRA's information: Verify it's the CRA calling
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GST/HST tax refund / credit scam
Scam types: Text message | Email
Description
Claiming to be the CRA, the scammer sends you a text message or an email about giving you a GST/HST tax refund or credit. You are asked to provide personal information to proceed. Scammer asks you to reply or click on a link to complete an application form with an urgent deadline to receive your refund or credit.
What to do
- Do not click on the link or reply to the message
- Do not send any personal or financial information
Refer to CRA's information: GST/HST credit
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Scam to access your CRA accounts
Scam type: Text message
Description
Scammer sends a text message claiming to be the CRA to gain access to your CRA accounts. Message will say there is an error with your account which will need to be updated. You are asked to text back "HELP" and then may be asked to provide personal information.
What to do
- Do not click on the link or reply to the message
- Do not send any personal or financial information
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Phishing scam to offer a refund
Scam types: Text message | Email
Description
Phishing scam impersonating the CRA to offer fake refunds to Canadians. Scammers will use a fake CRA email address or phone number to offer a refund. The message says the CRA owes you a refund and will ask you to click on a link to provide:
- Personal information such as your social insurance number, date of birth or your name
- Online banking information to accept the refund by e-transfer
What to do
- Do not click any links or reply to the message
- Do not send any personal or financial information
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Identity theft and fraudulent tax returns
Scam type: Identity theft
Description
Scammers acquire personal information (such as user ID and passwords), and file fake tax returns in your name. This is referred to as identity theft and targets all Canadians.
You may notice:
- A change on your account
- An email notification saying your account has been modified
- A delay in receiving credits or refunds
- Difficulty filing your tax return online
What to do
- Check your account for any unauthorized changes
- If any are found, contact the CRA as soon as possible
Refer to CRA's information: Report a scam or identity theft
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Extortion phone call demanding payment
Scam type: Phone call
Description
Scammers claiming to be the CRA will call to demand payment. They will call you from a fake number. They may spoof a local number or a number from local law enforcement agencies or governments.
Scammer may ask you to confirm your social insurance number and demand you pay them by Bitcoin or gift cards.
What to do
- Do not provide any personal or financial information
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