Protect Yourself From Canada Revenue Agency Phone Scams

Is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) really calling you—or is it a scam? The CRA is warning Canadians about persistent scams in which fraudsters impersonate CRA agents, demand immediate payment for alleged tax debts and threaten fines, criminal charges, jail time or even deportation if you don’t comply.

These scammers frequently demand payment through e-Transfer or unusual methods such as prepaid credit cards, gift cards or cryptocurrencies. They also pressure victims to act immediately, often within a few hours. Their goal is to force hurried decisions before you have time to check the facts, search online or consult someone you trust.

Scammers use multiple channels: phone calls, text messages, emails and even mailed letters. To sound convincing, they may say your return is under audit, recite ID or case numbers and reference personal details like your home address, birthdate or Social Insurance Number (SIN). They often “spoof” caller ID so the number looks like it’s coming from Ottawa or another official-looking location, even though the call may originate anywhere in the world.

sponsored

Equifax Complete Protection

Go to site

Equifax Complete Protection is a credit and cybersecurity service that helps Canadians detect identity fraud early.

• Daily credit monitoring and alerts
• Searches for personal data on the dark web
• Social media monitoring powered by ZeroFox

Subscription price: $34.95 per month

Go to site

Beware of fake offers for refunds and benefits

Not all impostors use threats. Some scammers lure victims with promises of unexpected refunds or extra benefits. These schemes typically arrive by email and attempt to extract sensitive information—your SIN, bank account or login credentials—by pretending to send you money. Once scammers obtain that information, they can drain accounts or commit identity theft.

Refund and benefit scams often rely on bulk email campaigns, which makes them easier to spread than individual phone calls. Watch for red flags such as a generic greeting like “Dear Taxpayer,” awkward grammar or spelling errors, or requests for personal details the CRA would already have. Even when the email addresses or greetings include a name, poor writing and suspicious links are telltale signs of fraud.

Keep in mind the official CRA will not perform the following actions:

• Use threatening or aggressive language
• Ask for personal or financial information in a voicemail or email
• Send refunds by e-Transfer or text message
• Request payment by e-transfer, prepaid credit cards, gift cards or cryptocurrency
• Threaten arrest, imprisonment or deportation
• Arrange to meet in person in a public place to collect payment
• Charge a fee to speak with a CRA agent

Ask yourself these questions if you suspect a scam:

• Do I owe taxes or have an outstanding balance with the CRA?
• Is the requester asking for details I wouldn’t include on a tax return?
• Are they requesting information the CRA already has?
• How did this person obtain my email or phone number?
• Am I certain who is asking for this information?

What to do if you’re a CRA scam victim

If you have been targeted and provided payment or personal information, act immediately. Try to stop or reverse the transfer—contact your bank or payment provider at once. Even if recovery is not possible, file reports to create an official record and help protect others.

Report the incident to local police, the CRA and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Contact your financial institutions and the credit bureaus to report fraud and request protections such as a fraud alert or credit monitoring. If personal identification information was exposed, consider services that monitor credit and identity theft risk.

Read more about fraud and scams:

• You’ve just discovered someone stole your identity—is it too late?
• 7 ways to protect yourself from ID theft
• How to protect your email account from scams and fraud
• 10 common crypto scams and how to avoid them