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Canada Benefits Dates

Beware of False Information Online

For accurate information about government benefits, always check official government websites. Scammers use fake websites, emails, phone calls, and text messages to steal your personal and financial information.

The CRA Will Never:

  • Send refunds or payments by e-transfer or text message
  • Provide or accept payments by cryptocurrencies
  • Demand or pressure immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, cryptocurrencies, prepaid credit cards, or gift cards
  • Threaten to deport or arrest you, or put you in prison
  • Use aggressive or threatening language
  • Set up an in-person meeting in a public location to collect a payment
  • Charge a fee to speak with a call centre agent
  • Ask for personal or financial information in a voicemail or email

How to Verify Government Communications

Official Government Websites

  • Start with canada.ca
  • Or end with .gc.ca
  • Example: canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html

Fake Website Signs

  • Extra words like cra-login-canada.com
  • Unusual endings: .info, .su, .com
  • Misspelled URLs or extra characters

Latest Trend: AI-Generated Scams

Scammers are increasingly using generative AI to create more convincing fake CRA communications. AI-generated scams may have fewer spelling errors and more realistic formatting than traditional scams, making them harder to detect.

Always verify information you read online about government benefits with the official Government of Canada website at Canada.ca. You can also verify by registering for a CRA account or contacting the CRA directly.

Latest Scam Alerts

The following scam alerts are sourced from the CRA scams and fraud page and updated automatically.

Fake financial aid, emergency or disaster relief fundraising

PhoneEmailText messageInstant messageLetter

Description

Following an emergency or disaster, scammers are pretending to fundraise money as part of relief or aid efforts. They may even set up an illegitimate business or organization with a website to be more convincing.

What to Do

Confirm that the organization is a registered charity or another type of qualified donee by checking our lists: Find a registered charity Find another type of qualified donee Refine your search by using the CRA’s search tips for the List of Charities Follow the CRA’s tips for how to avoid donation-related scams Report fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Report suspected donation-related scams or other non-compliance to the CRA by submitting a lead to the Leads Program Refer to the CRA’s information: Donate to disaster or emergency relief

Scams targeting charities

PhoneEmailText messageInstant messageLetter

Description

Scammers make a donation to a charity by cheque, then contact the charity afterwards pretending they made a mistake by donating too much, typically saying they accidentally added an extra digit. For example, they donated $2000 instead of $200. Then, the scammer asks for the initial $2000 donation amount to be refunded. The scammer could instead proceed to ask for only the difference back ($1800 in this example), and donate the smaller $200 donation amount to make the scam more convincing. If the initial $2000 donation transaction is then stopped by the scammer, they will have scammed the difference between the donation amounts. Warning signs for charities include someone: pretending an amount donated was a mistake, often with elaborate stories of financial impacts and worry to evoke and exploit empathy panicking about a donation and requesting a prompt refund

What to Do

Allow enough time (for example, 1 week) for transactions to complete to avoid scammers attempting to request a refund prematurely Avoid refunding the donation, since a registered charity cannot usually return a donor's donation Report fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Report suspected donation-related scams or other non-compliance to the CRA by submitting a lead to the Leads Program

Phishing scam to offer a refund

Text messageEmailPhone

Description

Phishing scam impersonating the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to offer fake refunds to Canadians. Scammers will use a fake CRA email address or phone number to offer a refund. The message says the CRA owes you a refund and will ask you to click on a link to provide: Personal information such as your social insurance number, date of birth or your name Online banking information to accept the refund by e-transfer

What to Do

Do not click any links or reply to the message Do not send any personal or financial information

Scam to access your CRA accounts

Text message

Description

Scammer sends a text message claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to gain access to your CRA accounts. Message will say there is an error with your account which will need to be updated. You are asked to text back "HELP" and then may be asked to provide personal information.

What to Do

Do not click on the link or reply to the message Do not send any personal or financial information

GST/HST tax refund / credit scam

Text messageEmail

Description

Claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the scammer sends you a text message or an email about giving you a GST/HST tax refund or credit. You are asked to provide personal information to proceed. Scammer asks you to reply or click on a link to complete an application form with an urgent deadline to receive your refund or credit.

What to Do

Do not click on the link or reply to the message Do not send any personal or financial information Refer to the CRA's information: GST/HST credit

Cryptocurrency scam

Phone call

Description

Claiming to work for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the scammer calls requesting money be transferred by cryptocurrency to cancel a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) warrant for your arrest. Pretending to be the RCMP, the scammer calls back to instruct you to transfer money from your bank account to cancel the arrest warrant. They promise to return your money once your name is cleared. The scammer provides phone numbers and passwords to deposit money into a local coin machine or cryptocurrency terminal.

What to Do

Do not provide any personal or financial information Hang up if the caller requests money Verify the caller is from the CRA Refer to the CRA's information: Verify it's the CRA calling

Emergency or disaster benefit scam

Text messageEmailInstant message

Description

Message claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) with a link to emergency benefits. Targeting people who are impacted by emergencies or disasters.

What to Do

Do not click on the link or reply to the message Refer to Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC's) information: Help for individuals affected by hazardous weather and natural disasters

Messages containing personal information

Text message

Description

Message claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), requests a payment or contains a link. It contains personal information such as, your name, date of birth, or Social Insurance Number.

What to Do

Do not provide any personal or financial information Do not click the link or reply to the message

Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security scam

Text message

Description

Fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regarding a line from the taxpayer’s most recent tax assessment, asking the taxpayer to respond “Y” for yes to resolve the issue. The text message scam then sends the recipient a fake CPP-related hyperlink, which takes them to a realistic impersonation of the CRA and banking websites, asking for personal information to sign in to the fraudulent website.

What to Do

Do not provide any personal or financial information Do not click the link or reply to the message

Low income seniors scam

Instant messageWebsite

Description

A scam aimed at seniors is claiming the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is sending extra payments to low income seniors. Websites with false information describe benefits and some contain links to join Telegram or WhatsApp instant messaging groups.

What to Do

Do not click on any links Do not join any instant messaging group Only refer to official Government of Canada web pages and your provincial or territorial government’s official web pages for information about government benefits. Refer to the Government of Canada's information: Benefits or the Benefits Finder

Document review scam

Email

Description

An email stating you have received a tax return document to review that has a button or link to review the document. These are phishing scams attempting to collect your personal, financial, or login information after you click the link. Remember: The CRA will notify you by email when something is available to view in your CRA My Account. Those notification emails will not contain a button or link asking you to fill in an online form with personal or financial details.

What to Do

Do not click any buttons, links, or reply to the message. Do not share any personal or financial information. Refer to the CRA's information: Email notifications from the CRA

Identity theft and fraudulent tax returns

Identity theft

Description

Scammers acquire personal information (such as user ID and passwords), and file fake tax returns in your name. This is referred to as identity theft and targets all Canadians. You may notice: A change on your account An email notification saying your account has been modified A delay in receiving credits or refunds Difficulty filing your tax return online

What to Do

Check your account for any unauthorized changes If any are found, contact the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as soon as possible Refer to the CRA's information: Report a scam or identity theft

Phone call from an official-looking number demanding payment

Phone call

Description

Scammers claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will call to demand payment or request information. They may spoof a local number, or an official number for law enforcement or even the CRA, to make it appear legitimate as though the call is coming from that number.

What to Do

Do not provide any personal or financial information Hang up and contact the CRA directly for any tax-related matters

EFILE accounts scam

EmailText messageInstant message

Description

Messages targeting tax preparation service providers and discounters are asking recipients to sign conditions for maintaining their EFILE accounts. There is a button or link that leads to a fake EFILE Sign in page, which looks very similar to the actual EFILE Sign in page.

What to Do

Do not click any buttons, links, or reply to the message Only access the EFILE Sign in page from official Canada.ca pages Refer to the CRA's information: EFILE for electronic filers

Recovery room scams

EmailText messageInstant messageLetter

Description

Messages target individuals who have already lost funds to a scam, promising to help them recover it. However, these messages are actually attempting to steal more money or your personal information. They often request that you first make a deposit or provide information before you can receive recovered funds. Scammers may include documents impersonating law enforcement, government agencies or regulators to build trust.

What to Do

Do not pay any fees or provide information Report fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Refer to the Canadian Securities Administrators’ information: Avoiding Fraud

Fraudulent CRA payment scam by text message

Text message

Description

A text message of an image with the Government of Canada logo claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) offering a fraudulent Interac® e-transfer deposit. Following the image, a separate text message containing a link to a realistic impersonation of a sign-in portal for financial institutions is sent.

What to Do

Do not reply to the text message, or click on any link provided Do not provide any personal or account information

Canada Carbon Rebate scam

EmailText message

Description

A text message or email claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has a link to the Canada Carbon Rebate. It may include images copied from Government of Canada social media accounts.

What to Do

Do not click on the link or reply to the message Refer to the CRA's information: Canada Carbon Rebate

Fake government benefit payments

Website

Description

There is disinformation on websites claiming the Government of Canada has introduced several new benefits or payments. There is no new financial relief payment of $2,000 by direct deposit There is no new $680 one-time payment for rent support There is no payment of $533 for inflation relief There is no $3900 one-time payment to help with the rising costs of essentials

What to Do

Avoid disinformation about government benefits by referring to official Government of Canada web pages and your provincial or territorial government’s official web pages Learn more about online disinformation Refer to the Government of Canada information: Benefits or the Benefits Finder

Benefit and tax credit scams

EmailText messageInstant message

Description

Scammers are sending messages about benefits and tax credits, such as the: Home accessibility tax credit (HATC) Disability tax credit (DTC) Multigenerational home renovation tax credit (MHRTC) Old age security pension (OAS) The messages may contain a link and a code. The CRA does not send text messages or emails about benefits or tax credits with links asking you to click them.

What to Do

Do not click on any links Do not reply to the message Only refer to official Government of Canada web pages and your provincial or territorial government’s official web pages for information about government benefits. Refer to the Government of Canada information: Benefits

Grocery Rebate scam

EmailText messageInstant messageWebsite

Description

There is disinformation online and messages circulating that claim individuals can apply for a Grocery Rebate. The Grocery Rebate was a one-time payment issued in July 2023, calculated based on a family’s situation in January 2023 and their 2021 adjusted family net income. The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit proposes building on the existing Goods and Services Tax (GST) Credit with increased payments for five years. Eligible recipients would not need to apply for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, but should file their 2024 tax return if they have not done so already, and must file their 2025 tax return to receive payments.

What to Do

Do not click on any links, provide information, or reply to messages asking you to apply for any Grocery Rebate Get accurate and current information about federal government programs, benefits, and advisories from official Government of Canada web pages at Canada.ca

Email bombing (excessive sending of emails)

Email

Description

Cybercriminals often obtain login information, such as user IDs and passwords, by using the same information from another website or previously breached accounts. They use this information to make changes on your account and then send many unwanted emails to flood your inbox. This is called email bombing, where scammers try to bury important and legitimate emails you receive, such as notifications about important changes made to your account.

What to Do

Do not click on any links in any of the unwanted emails or reply Check if you have mail by signing in to your CRA account Monitor your account and change passwords regularly to keep your CRA account secure If you notice suspicious activity on your account, report it to the CRA Refer to the CRA’s information: Email notifications from the CRA about changes to your account

NEW

Notice of assessment phishing scam

Email

Description

Scammers are sending messages that say your tax return has errors. You are instructed to download a revised notice of assessment to verify amounts which appear to be incorrect, incomplete, or inconsistent with your records. You are told the revised notice is not available through My Account or the CRA website, and you only have a short time limit to download and save it using the link in the email. This phishing scam uses tactics to pressure you into clicking on a link or button to provide information that scammers could then misuse. You may also be downloading malicious software, increasing the risk of unauthorized access to your device.

What to Do

Do not click any links or buttons, download or open attachments, or reply to the message View your personal income tax and benefit information online, including mail, notices and statements in your CRA account Report the scam to help protect more people from harm Refer to CRA’s information: Notices of assessment and Email notifications from the CRA Get Cyber Safe’s information: Phishing: An introduction

Report a Scam

If you suspect you have been the victim of a scam or received a suspicious communication claiming to be from the CRA, report it immediately:

  • CRA:Forward phishing emails to phishing-hameconnage@cra-arc.gc.ca
  • CAFC:Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or call 1-888-495-8501
  • Police:Contact your local police if you have lost money or personal information

Scam alert information sourced from the CRA Scams and Fraud page. Updated automatically.