Government and law enforcement scams
Many scams attempt to imitate government service sites to gain both personal and financial information. The Canada Revenue Agency is a common cover for scammers but since government departments span across many services, the opportunity for, and the impact of fraud, is far reaching.
We've all received the automated phone calls, the unsolicited emails and texts, and have read stories about fake (or spoofed) government sites. There are lots of traps but if you follow these tips and use common sense, you can avoid becoming a victim of fraud.
Select a scam below to learn more.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Whether by phishing, smishing, vishing or manipulation through social engineering, scams that pose as CRA are everywhere.
Means of contact
Nobody wants to receive a call from the CRA, and scammers know it. They prey on people's fear and anxiety around back taxes, owing money or being audited. Scammers will request personal information such as SIN numbers, bank account numbers, or even your passport numbers.
Look out for calls posing as CRA or Service Canada advising you that your SIN number has been compromised, you've committed a financial crime, there's an outstanding legal case against you, you owe back taxes, or have yet to pay your balance.
Tactics used
It's important to keep in mind that the CRA will not reach out by phone. CRA, Service Canada, and Law enforcement do not ask for private information, nor do they threaten to jail, harm, or extort funds in trade for doing or not doing something.
If they need to contact you, they will do so through mail or by email, notifying you that there is a message in your account, and that you will need to sign in to read it.
Do not click on a link or respond to a phone call. If you are unsure, go to the CRA website or contact them directly.
Means of contact
- Text
- Internet
- Phone
Nobody wants to receive a call from the CRA, and scammers know it. They prey on people's fear and anxiety around back taxes, owing money or being audited. Scammers will request personal information such as SIN numbers, bank account numbers, or even your passport numbers.
Look out for calls posing as CRA or Service Canada advising you that your SIN number has been compromised, you've committed a financial crime, there's an outstanding legal case against you, you owe back taxes, or have yet to pay your balance.
Tactics used
- Creates a sense of urgency
- Demands immediate payment
- Offers service for fees
- Asks you for your SIN number
It's important to keep in mind that the CRA will not reach out by phone. CRA, Service Canada, and Law enforcement do not ask for private information, nor do they threaten to jail, harm, or extort funds in trade for doing or not doing something.
If they need to contact you, they will do so through mail or by email, notifying you that there is a message in your account, and that you will need to sign in to read it.
Do not click on a link or respond to a phone call. If you are unsure, go to the CRA website or contact them directly.
Caller ID spoofing
Your receive a call and before picking it up, you check the caller ID. It seems to be from a government department, but is it? Caller ID is helpful, but can also be spoofed by fraudsters.
Means of contact
You receive a call that your caller ID identifies as the CRA, or another government agency. The caller advises you that there's a criminal case against you for tax evasion or fraud in the courts. The scammer will threaten further legal action or will request payment (extortion) in exchange for not pursuing the case.
Tactics used
Means of contact
- Phone
You receive a call that your caller ID identifies as the CRA, or another government agency. The caller advises you that there's a criminal case against you for tax evasion or fraud in the courts. The scammer will threaten further legal action or will request payment (extortion) in exchange for not pursuing the case.
Tactics used
- Automated call that creates a sense of urgency
- Provides a number to a hotline that you should call
- Threatens legal consequences if you do not respond
- Attempts to extort money to drop legal action
Immigration
Scammers pose as employees from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada and use this position of authority to manipulate and extort newcomers into paying fees or for services.
Means of contact
You receive a call claiming to be from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. They advise that there's outstanding paperwork that needs to be filed, that you've failed to complete documents, or they're offering services for fees.
Tactics used
Similar scams targeting pensioners also promise help or access to benefits or promise to invest money to increase your pension.
Means of contact
- Phone
You receive a call claiming to be from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada. They advise that there's outstanding paperwork that needs to be filed, that you've failed to complete documents, or they're offering services for fees.
Tactics used
- Threatens deportation, loss of passport and/or citizenship
- Extorts money
- Requires immediate payment by wire, prepaid gift card, or bitcoin
- Provides access to a website that charges fees for filing or promising to speed up the process
Similar scams targeting pensioners also promise help or access to benefits or promise to invest money to increase your pension.
Law enforcement
No matter how the contact is made initially, the news that you're being charged with a crime is frightening and bound to knock you off guard. That's exactly what scammers are counting on, and they're betting that this fear will prompt you to respond without thinking and open the door to fraud.
Means of contact
You're shocked and frightened when you're contacted by someone who claims to be from your local police or a law enforcement agency, such as the RCMP, Interpol, or Europol. Immediately, you panic as you read through the list of charges against you.
Tactics used
Keep in mind law enforcement will not:
Means of contact
- Text
- Letter
- Phone call
You're shocked and frightened when you're contacted by someone who claims to be from your local police or a law enforcement agency, such as the RCMP, Interpol, or Europol. Immediately, you panic as you read through the list of charges against you.
Tactics used
- Uses police logos or official identifiers to appear legitimate.
- Makes charges that appear to be legitimate with details and specifics of each charge (which of course are fraudulent)
- Requests money to drop the charges
Keep in mind law enforcement will not:
- Ask for private information
- Threaten to jail, harm, or extort funds
- Threaten arrest through email or phone
Police
You receive an email from local police requesting your help in an investigation, but ask that you keep it on the "down-low," as only a few in the force know about this investigation.
Means of contact
In addition to asking for your assistance, the police ask for personal and financial information to keep on file for their records.
Additional information
Means of contact
In addition to asking for your assistance, the police ask for personal and financial information to keep on file for their records.
Additional information
- Police do not inform individuals of an investigation by email
- Never give personal or financial information in response to a request that you didn't expect
- If you have a feeling that something is not right, it is best to trust your gut and stop communicating with that person
Relief benefits
From COVID to CERB, and most recently, Fiona, scammers target people at their most vulnerable. Targets receive unsolicited contact offering "government support" for relief. They can pose as government or non profit groups or simply scammers looking to use COVID as a cover for fraud.
Means of contact
COVID-19 added an entirely new category of scams, all targeted at vulnerable people who had legitimate fears. From counterfeit vaccine passports and unapproved drugs, to home testing kits and fraudulent relief funds, scammers took advantage of people's anxiety during a global pandemic.
Tactics used
Means of contact
- Letters
- Emails
- Phone calls
- Links to websites
COVID-19 added an entirely new category of scams, all targeted at vulnerable people who had legitimate fears. From counterfeit vaccine passports and unapproved drugs, to home testing kits and fraudulent relief funds, scammers took advantage of people's anxiety during a global pandemic.
Tactics used
- Emails or texts with malicious attachments
- Counterfeit travel documents
- Fraudulent home care
- Offers of medical care, or advice
- Government assistance or compensation
- Fraudulent charities requesting funds for victims, research, etc
- Offers of loans, debt consolidation or air purifying