Fake Service Canada Student Grant or Bursary Tax Verification Scam
Fraudsters impersonate Service Canada to target Canadian post-secondary students, claiming that a Canada Student Grant or bursary payment has triggered a CRA tax record that must be verified online before the funds are released or the SIN is cleared.
Part of: Fake Student Tax Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Service Canada administers the Canada Student Financial Assistance programme, which includes Canada Student Grants disbursed alongside student loans. Scammers exploit students' awareness of these grant payments — many of which are genuinely tax-exempt or partially assessable — to manufacture a scenario in which a tax record must be verified before a grant can be paid.
The message claims that a Canada Student Grant of a specific amount is pending tax verification, and that the student's SIN has been flagged in connection with the grant application. Unless the verification is completed immediately, the grant will be forfeited or the SIN will be placed on hold.
Service Canada and the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) disburse grants directly to students or to institutions. Tax-related questions about grants are handled by the CRA. Neither agency contacts students with unsolicited messages requiring SIN and banking verification through a link before funds are disbursed.
How this scam works on the Service Canada brand
The text reads: 'Service Canada: A Canada Student Grant of $1,500 is pending a CRA tax verification on your SIN. Complete verification to receive your payment: [link]. Offer expires in 48 hours.' The fake portal asks for SIN, date of birth, CRA My Account credentials, and banking details.
Some campaigns target students near the start of each academic semester when grant disbursements are expected. Others claim the student has an unresolved T4A tax slip from a previous grant that is blocking the current year's payment.
University and college email addresses obtained through data breaches or sold from marketing databases are used to target students specifically, lending the campaign a targeted feel.
Common red flags
- Service Canada message claiming a student grant requires tax verification via a link
- Link does not go to canada.ca
- Request for CRA My Account credentials alongside SIN
- Message timed at the start of an academic semester when grants are expected
- Urgency: grant forfeited or SIN frozen within 48 hours
- Email sender is not @servicecanada.gc.ca or @canada.ca
- Grant amount in the message does not match the amount on your real NSLSC account
How to protect yourself
- Log in to your NSLSC account at nslsc.canlearn.ca to check genuine grant and loan status
- Check your CRA My Account at canada.ca/my-cra-account for any genuine tax notices
- Never provide CRA credentials in response to an unsolicited message from Service Canada
- Contact the NSLSC at 1-888-815-4514 to verify any grant status question
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- If SIN and banking details were submitted, contact the CRA and your bank immediately
How to report it
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
- Contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218
- Report to the CRA at 1-800-959-8281 if CRA credentials were given
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- Alert your institution's financial aid or cybersecurity office
Frequently asked questions
How does Service Canada disburse Canada Student Grants?
Canada Student Grants are administered through the NSLSC. Funds are either deposited directly to the student's bank account as registered with the NSLSC, or paid to the educational institution. No additional tax-verification step through an unsolicited link is required.
Are Canada Student Grants taxable?
In most cases Canada Student Grants are not taxable income. However, if you receive a T4A slip in connection with a grant or bursary, you report it on your tax return as directed by the CRA. No online SIN verification through a Service Canada link is involved.
I am an international student. Can I receive a Canada Student Grant?
Canada Student Grants are generally available only to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons. Scammers sometimes target international students with these messages knowing they may be less familiar with the eligibility rules.