The Fake Government Call Scam: How Fraudsters Pretend to Be CBSA, CRA, Police, and Immigration Officers

Part 2 of Twikup's Canadian Scam Awareness Series

Before reading this article, start with Part 1:

➡️ The $704 Million Scam Crisis: How Canadians Are Losing Money Every Day in 2026 https://twikup.ca/canada/crime-safety/the-704-million-scam-crisis-how-canadians-are-losing-money-every-day-in-2026

Quick Answer

No legitimate Canadian government agency will threaten immediate arrest, deportation, imprisonment, account suspension, or police action over the phone and demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, e-Transfers, or wire transfers.

If someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), police, immigration authorities, or another government department demands immediate payment, it is almost certainly a scam.

Why This Scam Works So Well

Fraudsters understand one thing better than most people realize:

Fear makes people act before they think.

That's why fake government scams remain among the most successful frauds targeting Canadians.

Victims often receive calls, texts, emails, or voicemails claiming to be from:

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Immigration officials
Local police departments
RCMP officers
Courts or legal authorities
Service Canada

The goal is simple:

Create panic and force victims to send money before they have time to verify the story.

The CRA Tax Scam

One of the most common frauds reported across Canada involves criminals pretending to be Canada Revenue Agency agents.

The scam typically follows a predictable script.

Victims are told:

They owe unpaid taxes
A tax audit uncovered violations
An arrest warrant has been issued
Police are on their way
Their assets may be seized
They must pay immediately

The fraudster then pressures the victim to make a payment immediately.

Common payment requests include:

Gift cards
e-Transfers
Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency wallets
Wire transfers

Victims are often instructed not to tell anyone about the call.

Some scammers even stay on the phone continuously while directing victims to stores, banks, Bitcoin ATMs, or money transfer locations.

The Fake Police Officer Follow-Up

In some reported cases, victims who hesitate receive a second phone call.

This caller claims to be:

A police officer
An RCMP investigator
A local police department representative

The fake officer "confirms" the CRA story and warns that arrest is imminent unless payment is made immediately.

This two-person scam makes the fraud appear more believable.

The CBSA and Immigration Deportation Scam

Another rapidly growing fraud involves fake immigration or border officers.

Victims may be told:

Their visa has problems
Their immigration status is under review
A passport discrepancy was found
A border violation occurred
Deportation proceedings have started

Scammers often target:

International students
New immigrants
Temporary foreign workers
Permanent residence applicants

The fraudster claims the issue can be resolved quickly if the victim pays a fee immediately.

Victims are threatened with:

Deportation
Visa cancellation
Immigration bans
Arrest

These threats are designed to trigger panic and stop victims from seeking advice.

The Climate Action Incentive Payment Scam

Another increasingly common scam claims that a government benefit payment has not been processed.

Victims receive messages saying:

"Your Climate Action Incentive Payment has not been claimed or processed yet."

The message includes a link.

The link directs victims to a fake government website where scammers attempt to steal:

Banking information
Login credentials
Personal identification
Social insurance information

The Biggest Red Flags

If any government representative asks for the following, stop immediately.

Gift Cards

Government agencies do not collect taxes or fees using:

Amazon gift cards
Apple gift cards
Google Play cards
Prepaid cards

Any request for gift cards is a major warning sign.

Cryptocurrency Payments

Government agencies do not demand:

Bitcoin
Ethereum
Crypto wallets
Digital asset transfers

If cryptocurrency is requested, it is a scam.

Wire Transfers

Fraudsters frequently request:

Western Union
MoneyGram
International wire transfers

Government agencies do not use these methods for urgent collections.

Immediate Threats

Be suspicious if someone says:

"Pay now or you'll be arrested."
"Police are on the way."
"Your visa will be cancelled today."
"You will be deported."
"Don't tell anyone."

These are classic scam tactics.

Caller ID Can No Longer Be Trusted

Many Canadians assume a displayed phone number proves legitimacy.

Unfortunately, that is no longer true.

Scammers regularly spoof numbers to appear as:

CRA phone numbers
Local police departments
RCMP offices
Government agencies

The phone number on your screen can be fake even if it appears genuine.

How to Spot a Fake Government Website

Modern scam websites often look nearly identical to official government pages.

However, the web address usually reveals the truth.

Examples of suspicious domains include:

cra-login-canada.com
cra-account-notice.info
crareturnreview.cfd

Watch for:

Extra words
Misspellings
Unusual endings
Additional characters
Rearranged government names

Examples:

crra
c-ra
carev
revagency

What Official Government Websites Look Like

Most federal government websites:

Begin with canada.ca
End with .gc.ca

Examples include:

canada.ca
canada.ca/taxes
canada.ca/myaccount
canada.ca/be-scam-smart
canada.ca/cra-scam-alert
cyber.gc.ca
publicsafety.gc.ca

Important exception websites include:

rcmp.ca
antifraudcentre.ca
getcybersafe.ca
reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca
cybertip.ca

A missing "." before ".gc.ca" is often a scam warning sign.

What To Do If You Receive One of These Calls

Follow this checklist:

✅ Hang up immediately

✅ Do not click links

✅ Do not provide personal information

✅ Do not send money

✅ Independently verify the phone number

✅ Visit the official government website directly

✅ Contact the organization yourself

✅ Report the scam

Real Example: Why Victims Fall for It

Imagine receiving a call stating:

"A warrant has been issued because of unpaid taxes. Officers are being dispatched to your home. You can avoid arrest by paying today."

Most people know it sounds suspicious.

But when the caller knows:

Your name
Your address
Your phone number

And the caller ID displays a government agency number, many victims panic.

That panic is exactly what scammers rely on.

Twikup Insight

The most dangerous government impersonation scams are not successful because people are careless.

They're successful because scammers deliberately create a high-pressure situation where victims believe they have only minutes to act.

The moment someone demands immediate payment while threatening arrest, deportation, legal action, or police involvement, stop the conversation.

Real government agencies may contact you about legitimate matters, but they do not force instant payments through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or secret phone calls.

A useful rule for every Canadian:

The more urgent the demand, the more likely it is a scam.

Key Takeaways

CRA, CBSA, police, and immigration impersonation scams remain widespread across Canada.
Fraudsters commonly use arrest and deportation threats.
Gift cards, Bitcoin, e-Transfers, and wire transfers are major red flags.
Caller ID can be spoofed and cannot be trusted alone.
Official Government of Canada websites generally begin with canada.ca or end with .gc.ca.
Never click links from unexpected government messages.
Always verify information directly through official government channels.