Recently, many people have reported receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). What makes it tricky is that the caller ID often shows 1-800-959-8281 or 1-800-959-5525 — which are indeed CRA’s official hotlines for personal and business taxes.
👉 However, don’t be fooled! In reality, CRA calls rarely display these general hotline numbers. Instead, the call should come from a direct line belonging to a specific department or the officer assigned to your file. Scammers are exploiting this loophole to trick people into revealing overseas income, assets, or even sensitive personal details.
Common Scam Tactics
Scammers usually follow similar scripts. Here are some red flags:
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“We noticed you have undeclared foreign income/assets.”
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“Your tax information has been compromised. We need to verify immediately.”
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“If you don’t cooperate, your account will be frozen, or legal action will be taken.”
These phrases are designed to create panic so that you end up disclosing confidential information without realizing it.
How to Tell a Real CRA Call from a Scam
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No Pressure for Immediate Action
CRA will never force you to provide personal information right away. Instead, they will direct you to log in to My Account or visit the CRA website for details. -
No Threatening Language
Real CRA officers will not threaten to “freeze your account” or “arrest you immediately.” If you hear such threats, hang up right away. -
You Can Call Back
Tell the caller you’ll call back using the official numbers listed on the CRA website. A genuine CRA employee will always understand. -
Written Notices Come First
Important matters are communicated through official letters or notifications in My Account, not just by phone calls.
What to Do If You Get Such a Call
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Stay calm and never give out your SIN, date of birth, address, bank account, passport, or online banking details over the phone.
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Hang up, then call the official CRA hotline directly (find it on the CRA website, not from caller ID).
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Register and use My Account / My Business Account to access official communications and reduce reliance on phone calls.
Where to Report Fraudulent Calls
If you suspect you’ve received a scam call pretending to be CRA, here’s what you can do:
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Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)
Website: https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Phone: 1-888-495-8501 -
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or Local Police
If you have lost money or faced serious threats, report directly to the police. -
CRA Official Hotline
If in doubt, call the numbers listed on the official CRA website to verify.
Final Reminder
📌 If you see 1-800-959-8281 or 1-800-959-5525 on your caller ID, be extra cautious!
Scammers are actively using these numbers to impersonate the CRA.
Protect your personal information and report suspicious calls — this is the best way to prevent more people from becoming victims.