While the latter is not as certain as the former… encountering tax scams (especially this time of year) is becoming increasingly common for many Canadians.
While scammers are going to use every trick in the book, most commonly they’ll use phone calls, emails, texts, or social media messages—pretending to be from the CRA–to catch you off-guard. The scams vary, but they almost always involve threats of legal action, urgent requests for personal details, or promises of a big “refund.” Don’t be fooled: the CRA will rarely (if ever) make an unexpected claim of money from you. And if they do, they have formal, calm, approaches that give you ample notice and time.
If you get a suspicious message claiming to be from the CRA, stop and think. Official government communications typically arrive by mail or through your secure My Account online. When in doubt, hang up or ignore the message, then contact the CRA directly at their published phone number to confirm. And watch out for sneaky links! Clicking a link in an unexpected text or email can take you straight to a phishing site.
- Verify the sender by looking up the official CRA contact details before responding.
- Avoid sharing personal information (like SIN or PIN) if something feels off.
- Ignore intimidation—legitimate CRA agents won’t threaten arrest or demand immediate payment.
- Login through official portals only—never click suspicious links in texts or emails.
Staying safe is about staying informed. Remember: a genuine CRA agent won’t use pressure tactics or ask for sensitive details like your login credentials via text or email. Spot something off? Trust your instincts—delete or disconnect and verify before responding. If you or someone you know has encountered a scam, please let us know right away.
