Is the CRA Calling You? How to Spot a CRA Phone Scam

Our verdict

The CRA does not call threatening arrest. It does not demand immediate payment by iTunes gift cards, Bitcoin, or direct bank-to-bank money transfer (wire transfer). It does not ask you to stay on the line while you drive to the pharmacy to buy gift cards. If you receive a call where someone does any of these things while claiming to be from the CRA, you are speaking to a scammer. The Canada Revenue Agency is a legitimate federal agency that processes tax returns and administers Canada's tax laws — it is not calling to threaten you.

The CAFC received over 23,000 CRA impersonation reports in 2024, with total losses exceeding $14 million. It is Canada's single most-reported phone scam for the fourth consecutive year. The scam is sophisticated: callers use auto-dialers to reach thousands of Canadians per hour, they fake real CRA phone numbers so caller ID shows an authentic-looking number, and they target people who are already anxious about taxes — particularly newcomers to Canada, seniors, and small business owners.

The scam call typically follows one of three scripts. In the arrest script, a caller claims a warrant has been issued for your arrest for tax evasion or money laundering, and that you must pay immediately to avoid police arriving at your door. In the refund script, the caller tells you the CRA owes you a refund but needs your banking information to deposit it — then uses those details to drain your account. In the account suspended script, the caller says your SIN has been compromised and your accounts are being frozen, and you must act immediately.

How does the real CRA actually contact you? For most correspondence, the CRA sends a physical letter to your address on file. If the CRA calls you, it is almost always a follow-up to a letter you were already sent — they do not call out of the blue for debt collection. When a CRA agent calls, they will give you their name and badge number, they will not demand immediate payment, and they will not threaten arrest. You are always allowed to call back — hang up and call 1-800-959-8281 directly to verify. Any agent asking you not to hang up and call back is a scammer.

Gift cards are the tell. The real CRA accepts payment by online banking, cheque, at your financial institution, or through My Payment on the CRA website. It has never accepted iTunes cards, Google Play cards, Amazon gift cards, Bitcoin, Interac e-Transfer to an individual, or wire transfer. The moment any caller asks for a gift card number, the call is a scam — regardless of what number showed on your caller ID.

If you receive a suspicious call: hang up immediately. Do not press 1, do not provide any information. Report the call to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. If you are unsure whether a CRA contact is real, log in to My CRA Account at canada.ca to see your actual account status — any legitimate CRA action will be reflected there. You can also call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 to confirm whether they tried to reach you.

Editorial note: This article reflects the state of publicly available information at the time of writing. Business practices, ownership, and safety records change over time. TrustChekr is not affiliated with any company reviewed here and does not receive payment for editorial coverage. Verdicts are based on documented evidence and are subject to revision.