In short
The CRA says it will never send refunds by Interac e-Transfer or text, demand immediate payment by e-Transfer, crypto, prepaid cards or gift cards, or threaten to arrest or deport you. It only texts for sign-in verification codes if you enrolled with a phone, and its emails never contain links asking you to enter personal or financial information.
Most common fake: You have a CRA refund waiting, accept it by Interac e-Transfer.
Safest check: Sign in to My Account by typing canada.ca into your browser to see real messages and balances.
What CRA says
The CRA says it will never send refunds by Interac e-Transfer or text, demand immediate payment by e-Transfer, crypto, prepaid cards or gift cards, or threaten to arrest or deport you. It only texts for sign-in verification codes if you enrolled with a phone, and its emails never contain links asking you to enter personal or financial information. Source: Canada Revenue Agency
Common fake CRA messages
- You have a CRA refund waiting, accept it by Interac e-Transfer
- You owe taxes and police will arrest you unless you pay today
- Claim a benefit or tax credit you never applied for through this link
- Your CRA account is locked, verify your identity and SIN
- Pay your balance with gift cards or cryptocurrency
CRA's real web addresses
Genuine CRA links and emails use these domains. Look at the part just before the first single slash: canada.ca is real, but canada-support-center.com or canada.ca.account-check.top are not.
- canada.ca
- cra-arc.gc.ca
Scammers can also hide a fake link behind real-looking text. Learn how to read a web address.
How to check a CRA message safely
- Sign in to My Account by typing canada.ca into your browser to see real messages and balances
- Call the CRA on a number listed on canada.ca to check whether it contacted you
- Remember the CRA never sends refunds by text or e-Transfer
- Hang up on anyone threatening arrest or asking for gift cards or crypto
How to report a fake CRA message
- Tell the CRA about suspicious activity on your account using its online form or by phone (1-833-995-2336 for individuals). Official details on canada.ca
- Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or on 1-888-495-8501. Official details on antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM). Official details on canada.ca
Also report it to the official fraud service in your country. See the worldwide list.
If you clicked, paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card.
- If you entered a password, change it on the real CRA website or app and turn on two-step verification.
- Expect follow-up calls or messages pretending to help. Never share one-time codes or move money to a "safe account".
- Report the scam, then delete the message.
More help: Fake tax refunds, government payments and fines and what to do after a scam.
Questions people ask
Does CRA send messages asking for payment or personal details?
The CRA says it will never send refunds by Interac e-Transfer or text, demand immediate payment by e-Transfer, crypto, prepaid cards or gift cards, or threaten to arrest or deport you. It only texts for sign-in verification codes if you enrolled with a phone, and its emails never contain links asking you to enter personal or financial information.
How can I check if a CRA message is real?
Sign in to My Account by typing canada.ca into your browser to see real messages and balances. Call the CRA on a number listed on canada.ca to check whether it contacted you. Remember the CRA never sends refunds by text or e-Transfer. Hang up on anyone threatening arrest or asking for gift cards or crypto.
How do I report a fake CRA message?
Tell the CRA about suspicious activity on your account using its online form or by phone (1-833-995-2336 for individuals). Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or on 1-888-495-8501. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM).
I clicked a link in a fake CRA message. What should I do?
Don't enter anything else. If you typed card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card. If you entered a password, change it on the real website and turn on two-step verification. Then report the message and delete it.
Official sources and further reading
We check our pages against official advice from the organisations themselves and from government agencies.
- Recognize a scam (Canada Revenue Agency)
- Report a scam (Canada Revenue Agency)
- Report fraud and cybercrime (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre)