Last week we talked about many types of fraud and scams. This week we are going to talk about fraud and scams that use Canadian government information. Learning the signs can help you protect yourself and those who are important to you. 

The Government of Canada thankfully gives us ways to determine if something is legitimate or a scam. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/fraud-scams.html

Know the signs of a scam

Many scams and fraud attempt to imitate government services in order to gain access to your personal and financial information. 

It may be a scam if someone:

• Demands immediate payment
• Uses threatening language
• Sends you a link and asks you to click on it
• Asks for personal or financial information
• Requests payment by cryptocurrency or gift cards

If you are in doubt, take a minute to ask yourself why you are being contacted. It’s okay to ask questions and say no. 

Identify scams related to government services

Report scams or fraud to the appropriate Government of Canada department or agency. 

Scammers often pretend to be from: Service Canada

Types of scams – Social insurance number (SIN), employment insurance (EI) and passport-related scams

How to make sure the communication is legitimate:

• Letters and mail correspondence – All envelopes containing official documents from Service Canada has the official Canada wordmark and will be beige or white. 
• Phone calls, text messages, and emails – The government will not ask you to provider personal information.
  • If someone reaches out to you claiming to work for Service Canada, contact the program or service that reached out to you: by phone 1-800-O-Canada (1800-662-6232) or using a teletypewriter (TTY) (1-800-926-9105). An officer will assist you in getting more information about the program or service. They will also check if the person’s name is on the list of Service Canada investigators and guide you to the right program or service. 
• Web re-routes and sponsored search results – When you apply for a benefit from Services Canada, make sure you are dealing directly with the Government of Canada by visiting the Service Canada Benefits page for a trusted, up-to-date list of benefits and funding opportunities.
  • If you are typing a Government of Canada link into your address bar, please consider doing the following:
    • Double-check the link you have entered for errors and typos
    • Copy and paste links directly from official sources whenever possible
    • Make sure that the search engine result you click on is an official Government of Canada link
    • Trust your instincts and leave if something feels off about the page you are on

If You Think You’ve Been a Victim of Fraud

If something suspicious has happened, don’t keep it to yourself. Acting quickly can help limit the damage and may help prevent others from being targeted.

1. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately
If money, credit cards, or banking information were involved, your bank may be able to stop or reverse transactions and protect your accounts.

2. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
This is Canada’s national reporting centre for scams and fraud.

• Online reporting: Report Cybercrime and Fraud
• Phone: 1-888-495-8501

The CAFC collects reports from across the country and shares information with law enforcement to track fraud trends and support investigations.

3. Report the incident to your local police
Local police can open a file and investigate, especially if money has been lost or identity theft is involved.

4. If your identity may have been compromised
Contact Canada’s credit bureaus (Equifax or TransUnion) and consider placing a fraud alert on your credit file.