For this blog post, Get Cyber Safe has partnered with the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA), who, like us, understands how important cyber security is to businesses as well as individuals. This blog presents their perspective, and we thank them for being a dedicated partner in the cyber security of Canadians.
During the income tax filing season, scammers pose as representatives of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) in an attempt to trick you into sending payment for fictious "debts" or into providing sensitive personal information that they can use to commit fraud.
Long description: Don't get scammed
The Canada Revenue Agency will never use text messages or instant messaging to start a conversation with taxpayers about their taxes or benefits under any circumstance.
Scammers might send you convincing, and often threatening, messages by text, phone call or email such as:
- “Your tax refund is now available. Click here to receive your payment.”
- “You owe money to the CRA. We will send your file to a collection agency. Contact us now.”
- “You have a refund of $750 this year. Click here to claim it. Please fill in the online form here.”
How to spot tax season scams
There are often red flags that the communication is a scam:
- Does the call or voicemail make threats about debt that you owe the CRA and ask for payments in bitcoin or gift cards?
- Does the email, call or text convey a sense of urgency or a warning that they’ll contact police if you don’t reply?
- Does the email or text ask you to click on a link and verify your identity by entering personal information into an online form so you can receive a refund or benefit payment?
Long description: smishing message
Message: You have received $493 from the Canada Revenue Agency last year for your taxes. Please fill in the following online form [url redacted].
The CRA has information on its website including a scam alert page about how to verify if it is the CRA that is legitimately trying to contact you.
The CRA will never:
- send an email with a link asking you to divulge personal or financial information
- send you an email or a text with a link to your refund
- call you and threaten you with arrest or that they will send police
- demand you pay by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit card or gift cards
The CRA will never send texts or instant messages to start a conversation with taxpayers about their taxes or benefits under any circumstance.
What to do if you think you might be a victim of fraud
If you receive a call saying you owe money to the Canada Revenue Agency, contact the CRA directly or check your online CRA account. If you believe you have mistakenly provided your financial information to a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately.
Get Cyber Safe is Canada’s national public awareness campaign created to inform Canadians about cyber security and the simple steps they can take to help protect themselves online. Its website has advice and additional tips on what to do if you are a victim of a phishing scam, as well as simple steps you can do to secure your digital life, including your accounts and devices.
Additional resources
For information on common Government of Canada-related scams and to learn what to expect if the government contacts you, visit Canada.ca/be-scam-smart.
You can also consult Get Cyber Safe’s infographic on how to stay cyber safe during tax season.