Updated Checked by the Tax-Services.ca editorial team How we check
The CRA says it never demands immediate payment by gift cards, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards or Interac e-transfer, never threatens arrest, and does not send refunds by e-transfer or text. If a call, text or email worries you, do not use its link or phone number. Sign in to your own CRA account, or look up the number on canada.ca, instead.
Short answer: The CRA never demands payment by gift cards, cryptocurrency or e-transfer. If a message worries you, sign in to your own CRA account instead of using its link or number.
Scammers pick tax time because everyone expects to hear from the CRA, and a real message and a fake one can look alike. The checks below do not depend on how convincing the message looks.
What does the CRA say it will never do?
The CRA’s Recognize a scam page lists things it says it will not do. If a message does any of them, treat it as a scam:
- The CRA does not threaten arrest, deportation or prison, and does not use aggressive or threatening language.
- It does not demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, cryptocurrency, prepaid credit cards or gift cards, and it does not accept payment in cryptocurrency.
- It does not send refunds or payments by e-transfer or text message.
- It does not ask for personal or financial information in a voicemail or an email.
- It does not set up an in-person meeting in a public place to collect a payment.
- It does not charge a fee to speak with an agent.
- It does not use instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
The CRA says it only sends text messages for multi-factor sign-in, and only if you chose the telephone option. Automated calls are courtesy reminders, such as filing deadlines or instalments, and they do not ask for personal information.
What do common CRA scams look like?
Most CRA scams follow a few patterns. The table shows how each one works and the detail that gives it away.
| Scam | How it works | The giveaway |
|---|---|---|
| Arrest or warrant call | A caller claims to be the CRA or the RCMP and says a warrant is out for you | They want cryptocurrency or a bank transfer to “cancel” it |
| Refund or credit message | A text or email says you have a GST/HST refund or credit waiting | It pushes you to click fast, or to get the money by e-transfer |
| Fake notice of assessment | An email says your return needs a “document review” or a “revised notice” | An urgent download link |
| Account error text | A text says your account has a problem and asks you to reply | A follow-up asks for personal details |
| Fake benefit or charity | A message about CPP, OAS or a disaster fund | It asks for your SIN, bank details or a donation by an odd method |
How do you check whether a CRA message is real?
- Do not click links and do not reply to messages you did not expect.
- Type the address yourself. Official CRA sites start with canada.ca or end in cra-arc.gc.ca.
- Sign in to your CRA account directly and see whether the same message is waiting there.
- Hang up on a suspicious call, then find the official number on canada.ca and call it yourself. Numbers and websites can be faked.
- Not sure whether a letter is real? See our CRA letters decoder, the page on what to do when you receive a CRA letter and the guide to dealing with the CRA.
What should you do if you already clicked, paid or shared something?
- Stop contact, and do not send more money.
- Tell your bank or card company right away.
- Change passwords that you use for your CRA account, email and bank.
- Report it to your local police, to the CRA and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The links are in the sources below.
- Keep screenshots, phone numbers and any receipts.
If the message claimed to be about a benefit, the guide to benefits and credits explains the real payments.
Where does this information come from?
The list of what the CRA will never do comes from the CRA’s page Recognize a scam. To report one, see the CRA page Report a scam or identity theft, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the national cybercrime and fraud reporting system. Checked in October 2026. Scammers change tactics, so read the CRA’s current scam alerts too. This is an independent information site: we provide no services, we do not represent the CRA or any organization, and we do not guarantee that anything here is accurate or current. We accept no liability for decisions based on it. See the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CRA threaten arrest over unpaid taxes?
No. The CRA says it does not threaten to arrest, deport or imprison you, and it does not use aggressive or threatening language. A caller who does is not the CRA. Hang up, then call the number you find on canada.ca.
Does the CRA send refunds by text or e-transfer?
No. The CRA says it does not send refunds or payments by e-transfer or text message. If a message promises a refund and asks you to click a link or reply, do not respond. Sign in to your own CRA account to see whether a refund is waiting.
Does the CRA send text messages?
The CRA says it only sends text messages for multi-factor sign-in, and only if you chose the telephone option. A text about a refund, a problem with your account or a payment is a warning sign. Do not click its link.
How can I tell if a call from the CRA is real?
You cannot always tell from the caller ID, because numbers can be faked. Hang up, find the official CRA number on canada.ca and call it yourself, or sign in to your CRA account to see whether the same issue appears there.
What should I do if I paid a CRA scammer?
Stop contact, tell your bank or card company right away, and change your passwords. Then report it to your local police, the CRA and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and keep screenshots, phone numbers and receipts.