Canada Revenue Agency | Scammers send text messages using SIN

Do you receive a text message from an unknown number containing your name and social security number? Above all, don’t answer. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center alerted Monday about these elaborate fraudulent messages where scammers pose as the Canada Revenue Agency.

“The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center (CAFC) is receiving reports of text messages claiming to come from the Canada Revenue Agency, using the victim’s full name and SIN, and requesting payment,” the CAFC warned Monday on X .

The agency attached a screenshot of a fraudulent text message (in English only).

On its website, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reminds you to never use instant messages “to discuss your taxes, your refunds or My file”. The Agency will also never ask by email or text to provide personal or banking information.

Several scammers posing as the CRA are trying to phish citizens, the agency also warns. Some current scams involve the Canada Carbon Rebate, Canada Disaster Benefits, grocery rebates and GST/HST credits.

The Agency also indicates that certain messages sent by scammers may contain personal information “such as a name, date of birth or social insurance number.”

Visit the Canada Revenue Agency website

If you believe you have been scammed or have provided personal information, contact your local police department.

According to the Agency’s website, you can also contact the CRA if you notice the following irregularities:

• You believe your Agency user ID or password has been compromised
• You notice that changes that you did not request have been made to your banking data, your address, your professional data or your personal data
• You notice that a request for benefits has been made for you without your knowledge
• You want to deactivate online access to your information on the Agency’s login services
• You want to reactivate online access to your Agency Login Services information after it has been disabled