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CRA scam: how to spot fake Canada Revenue Agency calls and texts

Updated August 19, 2026

Someone calls or texts claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency. They want a refund “claimed” right now, or they say you will be arrested if you do not pay. That is a CRA scam. It is one of the most common frauds aimed at Canadians, including older adults.

The short version

Hang up. Do not click the link. Do not read a code aloud. Do not send Interac, gift cards, or Bitcoin. If you already shared a password or card number, call your bank from the number on the back of your card, then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

The real CRA will not pay you by Interac e-Transfer, will not demand gift cards, and will not ask for your debit-card PIN. You can always look up a real CRA number yourself and call back. Do not use a number the caller just gave you.

What these scams usually look like

The story changes. The pressure does not. Common Canadian versions include:

  • A text or email about a tax refund or CERB / benefit “overpayment” with a link to claim it.
  • A call that you owe money and will be arrested today unless you pay by Interac, gift cards, or crypto.
  • A Google ad or first search result that looks like CRA My Account, then asks for your SIN plus debit card number and ATM PIN.
  • A follow-up that moves the chat to WhatsApp or Telegram for an “extra payment for seniors.”

None of this is how the CRA actually collects tax or pays refunds. A surprise “you won money from the government” message is a reason to slow down, not to tap a link.

What the real CRA does not do

Write these down and keep them on the fridge if that helps. The real agency:

  • Does not send Interac e-Transfers for refunds or ask you to click a link to “accept” government money.
  • Does not threaten arrest, deportation, or a warrant in a text, email, or robocall.
  • Does not ask for your ATM PIN, a one-time passcode read aloud, or remote access to your phone.
  • Does not demand payment with gift cards, Bitcoin, or a money transfer to a person you have never met.

If you already talked or clicked

Stop. Do not send more money “to fix it.” If you typed a bank password on a page, call the bank immediately and say you may have given access to a scammer. If you shared a SIN, note the date and watch CRA My Account you already use. Open it from a bookmark or by typing canada.ca yourself, never from the message.

Tell a trusted family member. Shame is what scammers count on. A second pair of eyes is part of the defence.

How Guardian Circle helps

Guardian Circle is an Android app for you or someone you care about, plus a caregiver account for family. While we are in testing it is available by invite at guardiancircle.ca/get-the-app. Unknown calls can be screened by turning the caller’s words into text and checking that text. High-confidence scam calls can be hung up. Unknown texts and email previews can be checked. You get an alert in everyday words, not a raw dump of their inbox.

It does not replace your bank or the CRA. It does not catch every lie. It is there so you are not alone with a convincing caller, and so an older parent is not alone either. Family can hear about it while there is still time to talk.

Common questions

Does the CRA ever text you?
The CRA may send some notices, but a surprise refund link, an arrest threat, or a request for your PIN is not how they work. If you are unsure, sign in to CRA My Account you already set up, or call a number from a letter you already have.
I got a CRA Interac refund. Is that real?
No. The CRA does not pay refunds by Interac e-Transfer. Treat that message as a scam. Do not click, and do not “accept” money you were not expecting from the government.
Can Guardian Circle stop a CRA scam call?
When call protection is on, it can turn the caller’s words into text, check that text for classic CRA-scam patterns, and hang up a high-confidence scam. Family still gets an alert. Known contacts are left alone by default if that setting is on. No app is perfect, so keep the household rules too: hang up and call back on a number you looked up.

Official sites

For government or Interac rules, use their own pages. We wrote this guide in our words. We did not copy theirs.

Want a check on your phone?

Guardian Circle checks suspicious calls, texts, and messages for you or someone you care about, hangs up clear scam calls, and can alert family. Extra care for older parents. Free while we test. Android only for now.

Get the free Android app

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