Service Canada Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate Service Canada with fraudulent SIN theft calls and fake EI payment text alerts. Service Canada will never call to say your Social Insurance Number has been suspended.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Service Canada delivers federal government services including Employment Insurance, CPP, and OAS, and administers Social Insurance Numbers. Fraudsters use its name in the 'SIN suspension' phone scam — one of the most reported scams in Canada — claiming the victim's SIN has been involved in criminal activity and will be suspended unless they call back and provide personal information or make a payment.
Canada Revenue Agency impersonation scams are closely related, but Service Canada's name is used specifically in calls about EI payments and SIN cards.
How scammers impersonate it
- Calling and leaving automated voicemails claiming the victim's SIN has been suspended due to suspicious activity
- Sending texts claiming an EI payment has been delayed and requires SIN confirmation via a link
- Creating fake Service Canada web pages to harvest SIN, date of birth, and banking details
- Sending emails with Government of Canada branding claiming a benefits application requires urgent re-verification
- Calling with a spoofed 1-800 number to appear as a legitimate government line
What the real organisation never does
- Call to tell you your Social Insurance Number has been suspended
- Demand immediate payment via gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer to prevent arrest
- Ask you to confirm your full SIN, date of birth, and banking details in response to an unsolicited call
- Use threatening or urgent language about criminal charges in an initial automated message
Common red flags
- Automated call or voicemail claiming your SIN has been suspended due to illegal activity
- Caller demanding you call back urgently to avoid arrest or prosecution
- Request for payment via iTunes gift cards, Bitcoin, or wire transfer to resolve a government issue
- Text claiming an EI payment is held pending SIN verification via a link
- Any government representative who refuses to let you call back on the official number
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Voicemail: 'This is a final notice from Service Canada. Your SIN has been suspended due to suspicious activity. Call [number] immediately to avoid arrest.'
Text: 'Service Canada: Your EI payment of $[amount] is on hold. Verify your SIN at [fake link] to release it.'
How to verify
- The SIN suspension scam is not real — SINs cannot be suspended by phone
- Contact Service Canada directly at 1-800-206-7218 or visit servicecanada.gc.ca
- Genuine Government of Canada communications are accessible at canada.ca after direct login
- Report suspicious calls to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre.ca or 1-888-495-8501
What to do if you're targeted
- Hang up immediately — do not press any number or call the provided callback number
- Report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- If personal information was disclosed, contact Service Canada to discuss protective steps
Frequently asked questions
I got a call saying my SIN has been suspended — should I call back?
No. SIN suspension calls are a well-documented Canadian phone scam. Social Insurance Numbers cannot be suspended by phone. Hang up and report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.