If you've received a scam involving Revenue Canada (CRA) that asks for your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and date of birth, it's important to be extremely cautious. Here's what you need to know:
⚠️ Common Traits of CRA Tax Scams
Scammers often:
Claim you owe back taxes or are entitled to a refund.
Ask for sensitive info like your SIN, birthdate, or banking details.
Threaten arrest, legal action, or loss of benefits if you don’t respond.
Use spoofed numbers or emails that look like they're from the CRA.
Ask you to fill out a fake CRA form to “verify” your identity.
🛑 What to Do if You Receive One
✅ Do:
Ignore any suspicious phone calls, texts, emails, or letters.
Never share your SIN, birthdate, or financial information.
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre:
Website: https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Phone: 1-888-495-8501
Contact CRA directly if you're unsure:
CRA Individual Inquiries: 1-800-959-8281
❌ Don’t:
Click on suspicious links.
Fill out forms sent via email or text unless you're sure they are legitimate.
Send money or crypto, or buy gift cards for payment.
🧾 Legit CRA Communications
The CRA will never:
Use aggressive language or threats of arrest.
Ask for your SIN or banking info via email or text.
Request payment via Interac e-transfer, Bitcoin, or gift cards.
Ask you to fill out unsolicited forms online.
If you've already given your SIN or date of birth:
Contact Service Canada to report potential identity theft:
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/protect.html
Consider placing a fraud alert with a credit bureau:
Equifax Canada: 1-800-465-7166
TransUnion Canada: 1-800-663-9980
Would you like help checking whether a specific message or form is legitimate? You can paste it here and I’ll take a look.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model
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