Fake Service Canada Tax-Refund Notification Scam
Criminals send emails and texts mixing Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency branding to claim tax refunds are waiting, directing recipients to fake portals that harvest SIN and banking details. Tax refunds in Canada are administered by the CRA — not Service Canada — and are never claimed through unsolicited SMS links.
Part of: Fake Tax Refund Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are distinct federal bodies, but many Canadians are familiar with both as 'the government' and do not distinguish sharply between them. Scammers exploit this blurred perception by sending messages that combine Service Canada branding with tax-refund claims that would actually be the CRA's domain.
The messages tell recipients that an overpayment of Employment Insurance contributions or a tax credit adjustment has resulted in a refund, and that banking details must be updated via a link to receive it. The use of familiar Service Canada language around EI and benefits adds credibility.
The CRA — not Service Canada — administers income tax, GST/HST credits, and most federal tax refunds. Real CRA refunds go to the bank account on file in your CRA My Account or are mailed as cheques. They are not triggered by clicking a link in an unsolicited text.
How this scam works on the Service Canada brand
Texts read: 'Service Canada: A refund of $XXX related to your Employment Insurance contributions has been processed. Confirm banking details to receive payment: [link].' The link harvests GCKey credentials and banking information.
Email variants more explicitly mix CRA and Service Canada logos, claiming the recipient qualifies for a Goods and Services Tax credit adjustment or a Canada Workers Benefit payment and must confirm their direct deposit details through a link.
Real CRA tax refunds are deposited within the standard processing timeframe after your tax return is assessed. The CRA sends a Notice of Assessment by mail or through My CRA Account — it does not send unsolicited payment links.
Common red flags
- Text or email from 'Service Canada' about a tax refund requiring banking details via a link
- Link does not go to canada.ca
- Request for SIN and banking details to receive the refund
- No corresponding notice in your CRA My Account or My Service Canada Account
- Email address is not from a @canada.ca domain
- Urgency: 'refund will be returned to government if not claimed by [date]'
- Message blends Service Canada and CRA branding in a confusing way
How to protect yourself
- Log in to CRA My Account at canada.ca/my-cra-account to check your actual tax position and any refunds
- Log in to My Service Canada Account at canada.ca to check for any real EI or benefit adjustments
- Never provide SIN or banking details via a link in an unsolicited message
- Call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 to verify any tax refund claim
- Report suspicious messages to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
How to report it
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
- Report CRA phishing to the CRA at 1-800-959-8281
- Report to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security at cyber.gc.ca
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- If financial data was submitted, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
Does Service Canada issue income tax refunds?
No. Income tax refunds in Canada are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), not Service Canada. Service Canada focuses on EI, CPP, OAS, and SIN services.
How does the CRA pay real refunds?
CRA refunds are deposited to the bank account registered in your CRA My Account, or mailed as a cheque to your address on file. No unsolicited text or email link is ever part of this process.