CRA Scam Calls, Texts, and Emails: How to Tell What’s Real in 2026

CRA scam calls have been around for years, but they keep getting more convincing. In 2025 alone, Canadians lost over $60 million to fraud involving fake government agencies, and CRA impersonation is consistently at the top of the list. The calls, texts, and emails are designed to scare you into paying immediately, and they work on a lot of people.

Here’s how to tell the difference between a real CRA contact and a scammer.

Last updated: April 2026

What CRA Scam Calls Sound Like

The typical scam call follows this script:

“This is the Canada Revenue Agency. There is an arrest warrant in your name.”
“You owe back taxes and if you don’t pay immediately, you will be arrested.”
“Pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer to resolve this today.”
They spoof their caller ID to show a CRA number (1-800-959-8281 or similar).
They may reference your real name and address (pulled from data breaches).

Some versions are automated robocalls. Others use live callers who are surprisingly aggressive. They’ll threaten arrest, deportation, or freezing your bank accounts. The whole point is to panic you into paying before you have time to think.

How to Spot a Scam: What CRA Will Never Do

CRA has very clear rules about how they contact taxpayers. If any of these happen, it’s a scam:

CRA will NEVER ask for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. If someone asks you to buy iTunes cards to pay your taxes, hang up immediately.
CRA will NEVER threaten you with arrest. Tax debt is a civil matter. They don’t send police to your door over an unpaid balance.
CRA will NEVER demand immediate payment over the phone. Real CRA agents give you time and send written correspondence.
CRA will NEVER ask for personal information by email. They don’t send emails asking you to click links or enter your SIN.
CRA will NEVER leave threatening voicemails. If they call and you don’t answer, they may leave a callback number, but never threats.

What Real CRA Contact Looks Like

CRA does actually call people. They also send letters, use My Account messaging, and in some cases send emails. Here’s how to tell it’s legit:

Phone Calls

Real CRA agents will identify themselves by name and provide a callback number
They may ask you to verify your identity with information from your tax return (date of birth, address on file, amounts from a specific line)
They won’t pressure you to pay right now. They’ll explain your options and give you time
If unsure, hang up and call CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 (individuals) or 1-800-959-5525 (businesses)

Letters

Official CRA correspondence comes by mail to the address on your tax file
It includes your full name, a reference number, and specific details about your account
If you get a letter that looks suspicious, log into My Account on the CRA website and check for correspondence there. Real notices show up in both places.

Email and Text Messages

CRA does send emails, but only if you’ve signed up for email notifications through My Account
They’ll never include links asking you to enter personal info
Scam texts often say “Your CRA refund is ready” with a link. Ignore and delete these.

The Newer Scams (2025-2026)

Scammers are getting creative. Beyond the classic phone call, watch for:

Fake CRA text messages: “You have an unclaimed refund of $847.00. Click here to claim.” These link to phishing sites that steal your login credentials.
Phishing emails with PDF attachments: Look like official CRA notices. The PDF contains malware or links to fake login pages.
AI-generated voice calls: Some scammers are using AI to generate more natural-sounding calls that are harder to distinguish from real agents.
“CRA” showing up on caller ID: Caller ID spoofing is easy and cheap. Just because it says “Canada Revenue Agency” doesn’t mean it’s CRA.
Fake My Account login pages: Exact replicas of the CRA login page. Always navigate to CRA directly by typing the URL, never through a link in an email or text.

What To Do If You Get a Scam Call

Hang up. Don’t engage, don’t argue, don’t give them any information.
Don’t call back the number they gave you. It goes right back to the scammers.
If you’re worried you actually owe CRA, call them directly at 1-800-959-8281 or check My Account online.
Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre.ca.

What If You Already Paid a Scammer?

If you’ve already sent money:

Contact your bank or credit card company immediately. They may be able to reverse the transaction.
If you sent gift cards, contact the gift card company (Apple, Google, Amazon) with the card numbers. Sometimes they can freeze the funds.
Report it to local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Monitor your credit. If you gave out personal information (SIN, date of birth), place a fraud alert with Equifax (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion (1-800-663-9980).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CRA call you on the phone?

Yes, CRA does make outbound calls. They call about account reviews, missing returns, and collection of overdue balances. The difference is that real agents identify themselves, don’t threaten arrest, and never ask for gift card or crypto payments. If you’re unsure, hang up and call CRA directly.

Can scammers spoof the CRA phone number?

Yes. Caller ID spoofing is common and easy to do. A call showing “1-800-959-8281” or “Canada Revenue Agency” on your phone doesn’t mean it’s actually CRA. Always verify by calling back on the official number yourself.

I got a text from CRA about a refund. Is it real?

Almost certainly not. CRA doesn’t text you about refunds. If you’re expecting a refund, check My Account on the CRA website directly. Any text with a link asking you to claim money is a scam.

Stay Informed

CRA maintains a list of current scams on their website: Protect yourself against fraud. Bookmark it and check if you’re ever unsure about a contact.

If you’ve received a suspicious call or letter that references your tax account and you want to verify whether it’s legitimate, contact us. We can check your CRA account status and let you know if there’s actually an issue.