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Canada (CA)

Canada is the world's second-largest country by land area and one of the most immigration-friendly nations on earth.

Capital: Ottawa
Region: Americas
Language: English
Currency: CAD (CA$)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 72)
Emergency: 911
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Canada.

Canada ranks among the highest countries globally for per-capita fraud losses. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) reported $554 million in reported fraud losses in 2023 and estimates only 5–10 % of fraud is actually reported. Newcomers to Canada are disproportionately targeted because they are unfamiliar with how Canadian institutions communicate. Three golden rules: Canadian government agencies — CRA, IRCC, CBSA, RCMP, Service Canada — never demand immediate payment by phone, never demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency, and never threaten arrest. If a caller creates fear and demands immediate action, it is a scam. The national reporting line is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC): 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca.

CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) Phone Scam

critical

A caller claims to be from the CRA (or "Revenue Canada") and says you owe back taxes. They threaten immediate arrest, deportation, or driver's licence suspension unless you pay within the hour by gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon), cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. The caller may be aggressive and know some personal information about you (name, partial SIN, address). Newcomers on temporary visas are especially targeted with added threats of immigration consequences. Ontario Provincial Police confirmed a surge in CRA scam calls in early 2026. The CRA itself warns on its website (canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/scams-fraud) that this is its most-reported fraud type.

How to spot it
  • - CRA never demands payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or prepaid credit card — ever
  • - CRA never threatens arrest, deportation, or licence revocation on a phone call
  • - CRA never requires you to stay on the phone while you buy gift cards
  • - CRA never emails or texts links asking you to enter personal or payment information
  • - Real CRA correspondence arrives by Canada Post letter — never demanding same-day action
  • - If you genuinely owe taxes, CRA sends written notice and offers payment plans — never phone ultimatums
What to do: Hang up immediately. Do not provide any personal information. If unsure whether you owe taxes, call CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 (individuals) using the number from canada.ca — never a number provided by the caller. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca. Report to your local police if money was sent.

IRCC / Immigration Status Scam

critical

A caller claims to be from IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency), or the RCMP, and says your visa, study permit, work permit, or permanent residence application is at risk. They demand immediate payment of a "security bond," "administrative fee," or "file re-opening fee" to avoid deportation or arrest. Some callers pose as RCMP officers claiming a warrant has been issued. This scam specifically exploits the fears of newcomers whose immigration status is tied to compliance.

How to spot it
  • - IRCC, CBSA, and RCMP never call to demand immediate payment — any payment notice arrives in writing
  • - IRCC never charges "security bonds" or "administrative re-filing fees" by phone
  • - Immigration notices always appear in your IRCC online account or arrive by Canada Post
  • - Real RCMP officers do not phone to warn you of a warrant — warrants are served in person
  • - Caller insists on secrecy ("don't tell your employer or family") — a certain sign of fraud
What to do: Hang up. Check your IRCC online account at canada.ca/my-ircc-account. Call IRCC directly at 1-888-242-2100 to verify your status. Report to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 and to IRCC's fraud reporting form at canada.ca/report-immigration-fraud.

Fake Rental Listing Scam

critical

A fraudulent rental listing appears on Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, or Craigslist — often using copied photos and address details from a real listing — at a below-market price. The "landlord" is always overseas, unavailable for an in-person viewing, and requests a deposit by e-Transfer, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency to "hold" the unit. In Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, where the rental market is extremely competitive, victims feel pressure to act immediately. The scammer disappears once the deposit is sent.

How to spot it
  • - Price is 20–40 % below comparable units in the same neighbourhood
  • - Landlord insists on contact only by email or WhatsApp and is "overseas for work / military / missions"
  • - Deposit requested before any in-person viewing — legitimate landlords always allow a viewing first
  • - "Key will be sent after deposit" — no legitimate landlord mails keys without meeting you
  • - Extreme time pressure: "I have three other applicants ready today"
  • - Google reverse-image-search the listing photos — scammers reuse photos from other listings
What to do: Never pay any deposit before physically viewing the unit and verifying the landlord's identity and ownership of the property. A legitimate landlord always agrees to meet at the property. If the deal seems too good to be true in a tight market, it is. Report to Kijiji, Facebook, or Craigslist and to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501.

Bank / SIN / Identity Theft Call

critical

A caller claims to be from your bank (TD, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, CIBC, etc.) and says there is fraudulent activity on your account. They ask you to verify your identity by providing your online banking password, OTP (one-time passcode), debit card PIN, or SIN. Some callers claim to be from Service Canada and say your SIN has been "suspended" due to criminal activity linked to your number. SINs cannot be suspended by phone.

How to spot it
  • - Banks never call to ask for your full password, PIN, or OTP — if you share an OTP, the caller uses it instantly
  • - Service Canada never calls to suspend a SIN — this function does not exist by phone
  • - Caller may know your bank name and partial account information (from data breaches) — this does not make them legitimate
  • - Canadian phone numbers can be spoofed — a caller ID that shows your bank's number proves nothing
  • - Any call asking you to confirm an OTP they just triggered is attempting to access your account in real time
What to do: Hang up. Call your bank directly using the number on the back of your card or the bank's official website. Enable login notifications and two-factor authentication on all financial accounts. If your SIN may have been compromised, call Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218 and CRA at 1-800-959-8281. Report to the CAFC.

Fake RCMP / Police Warrant Call

warning

A caller identifies as an RCMP officer, local police, or Interpol agent and claims an arrest warrant has been issued in your name related to money laundering, drug trafficking, or identity theft. They offer to "resolve the matter confidentially" if you pay a bail bond or legal fee immediately in cash, gift cards, or crypto. Some send a victim to speak with a fake "lawyer" or "judge" who is also a fraudster. This scam specifically exploits newcomers' unfamiliarity with Canadian legal procedures.

How to spot it
  • - Real police serve warrants in person — they do not telephone to warn you of a warrant
  • - Real law enforcement never asks for payment over the phone under any circumstances
  • - Caller insists on secrecy and demands you not contact your family or a real lawyer
  • - Caller references your "immigration file" and threatens deportation — escalating fear for newcomers
What to do: Hang up. Call your local police non-emergency line or 911 to verify whether any warrant exists. Consult an immigration lawyer if you are concerned about your status. Report to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501.

Grandparent / Family Emergency Scam

warning

A caller — or an AI-voice-cloned "family member" — claims your grandchild, child, or relative has been in an accident, arrested, or is stranded abroad and needs emergency cash immediately, either by wire transfer or through a "courier" who will collect cash from your home. This is one of the most prevalent scams targeting elderly Canadians; the CAFC reports it as a top fraud category by loss amount. AI voice-cloning of real family members' voices has been used in confirmed cases.

How to spot it
  • - Extreme urgency: money needed "within the hour" or "before the courts close"
  • - Secrecy demanded: "don't tell anyone or the situation will get worse"
  • - Cash courier coming to your door — no legitimate legal or bail process works this way
  • - The "family member's" voice sounds slightly off or they refuse a video call
  • - Cannot verify the emergency through a second contact method you initiate independently
What to do: Hang up. Call the alleged family member on their known phone number directly. Call other family members to verify the story. Never give cash to a stranger at your door. Report to your local police and the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501.

Fake Job Offer / Employment Scam

warning

A fake employer on LinkedIn, Indeed, or Workopolis offers a well-paying remote job requiring minimal experience. After "hiring," they ask you to deposit a cheque they send and forward a portion as "equipment purchases" or "training fees." The cheque bounces weeks later and you are liable for the full amount — this is the classic money mule setup. Newcomers seeking their first Canadian job are especially vulnerable.

How to spot it
  • - Salary far above market rate for the role and level of experience required
  • - Hired after one brief online chat with minimal screening
  • - Request to deposit a company cheque and immediately withdraw and send a portion elsewhere — always fraud
  • - Any fee required before starting work — legitimate employers pay employees, never the reverse
  • - Company cannot be verified on LinkedIn, a phone call, or the CRA Business Registry
What to do: Never deposit a cheque from an employer and forward funds. Never pay fees to get a job. Verify any Canadian employer at the CRA Business Registry (apps.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/erib). Report to the CAFC and to the job platform.

Romance / Online Relationship Scam

warning

A match on a dating app or social media quickly declares love. They typically claim to be a professional overseas (engineer on an oil rig, doctor with an NGO, soldier abroad, expat business owner). After building trust over weeks or months they ask for money for a medical emergency, travel ticket, legal fee, or business investment. Reported losses in Canada average $20,000–100,000 per victim. Newcomers who are socially isolated are disproportionately targeted.

How to spot it
  • - Declarations of love after a very short time without meeting in person
  • - Always "about to visit Canada" but something prevents it at the last minute, every time
  • - Profile photos look overly professional — reverse-image-search them
  • - Any financial request, no matter how small — the first request tests willingness
  • - Refuses live video calls or cancels at the last moment with excuses
What to do: Stop contact. Never send money to someone you have not met in person. Report the profile to the dating platform and to the CAFC at antifraudcentre.ca. If money has been sent, contact your bank immediately — wire transfers may be recoverable within 24–48 hours.

Phishing Email / Text (CRA, Canada Post, Banking)

warning

Fraudulent email or SMS mimics the CRA (tax refund available), Canada Post (parcel held), your bank (suspicious activity), or IRCC (document required), linking to a fake website that captures login credentials or card details. CRA phishing around tax season is the most reported variant. The CRA confirms it never sends emails with a refund link.

How to spot it
  • - CRA never sends email saying a refund is waiting with a link to claim it — CRA deposits directly or mails cheques
  • - Canada Post never sends SMS asking for a credit card payment to release a package
  • - Sender email domain is slightly misspelled (cra-arc.gc.com vs cra-arc.gc.ca; .com vs .gc.ca)
  • - Links in the message do not end in .gc.ca for Canadian government services
  • - Message asks you to enter your banking details, SIN, or password through a link
What to do: Do not click any links. Navigate directly to the official website by typing the URL. Forward CRA phishing emails to phishing@cra-arc.gc.ca. Report to the CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca.

Reporting

Where to report: Primary reporting: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) — 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre.ca (available in English and French). For identity theft: place a fraud alert with Equifax Canada (1-800-465-7166) and TransUnion Canada (1-877-525-3823). Police reports: local police non-emergency line (RCMP in rural areas, OPP in Ontario, SQ in Quebec). Immigration scams: IRCC fraud reporting at canada.ca/report-immigration-fraud. Investment scams: provincial securities regulator — OSC in Ontario (osc.ca), BCSC in BC (bcsc.bc.ca), AMF in Quebec (lautorite.qc.ca). Deceptive marketing: Competition Bureau Canada (competitionbureau.gc.ca). Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC): canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency.

Consumer helpline: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free, Monday–Friday). Bank fraud lines — TD: 1-800-983-8472; RBC: 1-800-769-2512; BMO: 1-877-225-5266; Scotiabank: 1-866-625-0561; CIBC: 1-800-465-2422 (personal fraud). Newcomer support: settlement agencies (ACCES Employment, COSTI, YMCA Newcomer Services) can help assess scam situations and refer you to appropriate authorities.