Scam calls and texts in Canada: how to check a number and what to do
Quick answer
There's no reliable public list that tells you whether a number is a scammer. Check the claim instead. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) never threatens arrest, never texts, and never asks for payment in gift cards, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency. Verify through your CRA account.
- Comes by
- Phone call, Text, Email
- Pretends to be
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Last updated
How it works
Canada's Competition Bureau describes a common scam: someone pretends to be from the CRA and tries to get your banking information or money. You get a text or email saying you're owed an unexpected refund and only need to give your banking details. In another version, you get a call or email saying you owe the CRA money and must pay right away or face police.
Scammers change numbers constantly, so a list of numbers goes out of date quickly. What stays the same is the script.
The Competition Bureau says the CRA's emails never ask for financial or personal information such as a SIN, credit card, bank account or passport number.
Red flags
- A message about a tax refund that asks for your banking details
- A threat of arrest or police if you don't pay now
- Payment demanded in cryptocurrency, prepaid cards or gift cards
- A text message from "the CRA"
- Aggressive or threatening language
- A request for your SIN, card or passport number
Example message
This is the Canada Revenue Agency. You are owed a refund of [amount]. Follow [link] and confirm your banking details to receive it.
What to do
- 1
Don't respond or click
Don't reply, call back or follow a link in the message.
- 2
Verify through the official route
Log in to your CRA My Account or call the CRA at the number published on canada.ca.
- 3
If you paid or shared banking details
Contact your bank right away using the number on your card, and change your online banking passwords.
- 4
If you shared your SIN
Contact the credit bureaus about fraud alerts and watch your accounts closely.
- 5
Report it
Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and to your local police if you lost money.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers get names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses from people-search sites and from data breaches. That's how a scam message can arrive with your real name on it. Serus finds the data brokers and people-search sites that list you and removes you from them, and alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
Common Canada Revenue Agency scams
Frequently asked
Is there a list of scammer phone numbers in Canada?
No official list covers them all, and scammers rotate numbers. Check what the message claims against your CRA account.
Will the CRA send me a text?
The Competition Bureau says the CRA will never use text messages to communicate.
Will the CRA threaten arrest?
No. The CRA doesn't use aggressive language or threaten arrest or police.
How can the CRA be paid?
Only online, in person or by mail.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
