Since today is April Fools’ Day, it is the perfect time to talk about a “prank” that is anything but funny: the CRA Refund Scam. If you haven’t already seen our full Scam Report in this past Saturday’s Roundup, this is a critical reminder to stay vigilant during tax season.
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The Setup: You receive a text message or email that looks official. It might say: “CRA: We have a tax refund of $425.60 waiting for you. Click here to deposit via e-Transfer.”
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The Reality: As we noted in our recent report, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) never sends refunds via text message or e-Transfer. They also never ask for personal information like your SIN or credit card numbers through a link.
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The Best Defense: If you get a message like this, do not click the link. Simply delete it. If you are genuinely curious about a refund, log in to your official “My Account” on the Canada.ca website or call them directly using a trusted number from their site.
For more details on how to spot these impersonators and protect your bank account, be sure to check out the Scam Alert section in our Weekend Roundup every Saturday.
If you haven’t seen our comprehensive SCAM Guide yet, you can access it HERE.
**Bill Gould** spent 43 years as a long-haul truck driver before trading the steering wheel for a keyboard to help fellow Canadians navigate the road of retirement. A freelance writer, published author, and editor of over 50 books, Bill co-founded *Canadian Senior Moment* with his wife, Marilyn, to provide a trusted space for seniors to find clarity, safety, and connection in the digital age. When he isn’t troubleshooting “tech gremlins” or sharing childhood memories of the Prairies, he can be found in his woodshop or working on his latest novel.