Scams and fraud

There are a variety of scams and frauds happening in Canada, and new ones are being created daily. The Canada Revenue Agency has information to help you learn how you can protect yourself from scammers and be ‘scam-smart’.

Visit the Canada Revenue Agency Scams and Fraud web page

Recognizing a scam

Many scams and frauds attempt to imitate government services in order to gain access to your personal and financial information. To identify legitimate communications, read these guidelines and know what to expect if the Government of Canada contact you and how to identify fake calls, texts, emails or mail:

• Messages claiming to be from Service Canada or 1 800 O-Canada
• Messages claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency
• Messages claiming to be from Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada
• Messages claiming to be from Canada Border Services Agency

Types of scams and fraud

• Phone call scams – Beware of telephone calls claiming to be from the Government of Canada.
• Prepaid cards, bitcoin, e-transfer payment scams – Beware of suspicious requests demanding immediate payment.
• Email scams – Watch out for emails claiming to be from the Government of Canada.
• Text messages/instant messaging scams – Beware of text messages and instant messaging that looks like it’s from the Government of Canada.
• Mail scams – Beware of mail that looks like it’s from the Government of Canada.
• Common scams aimed at newcomers to Canada – Learn about the kinds of scams newcomers to Canada should watch out for.
• COVID-19 scams and fraud – Learn about reported scams related to COVID-19 and how to protect yourself.

Protecting yourself

• Stay safe online – Learn about simple steps you can take to protect yourself online like choosing strong passwords, passphrases and PINs.
• Protect yourself from scams and fraud – Learn how to avoid scammer pressure tactics, get tips on how to verify whether a communication is legitimate, and what to do if you suspect a scam.
• Protect your Social Insurance Number – Find information on how to protect your SIN, and what to do if you suspect your SIN is being used by someone, or you have been affected by a data breach.
• Protect your financial information – Scammers may try to steal your personal and financial information to access your accounts and steal your money. Learn more about how to protect yourself.

Learn more and read real stories from victims of CRA scams on the CRA Scams and Fraud web page