As tax season approaches, Canadians are once again seeing an increase in fraudulent emails impersonating the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). These phishing attempts are becoming more sophisticated, using convincing language, official-looking branding, and urgent calls to action in an effort to trick recipients into clicking links or sharing personal information.

At EBT Chartered Professional Accountants, we want to ensure our clients and community stay protected.

 

What These Scams Look Like

Recent reports show emails that appear to come from the CRA, often claiming that:

 

• • You have a refund waiting,

• • You owe money,

• • Your account information needs to be updated, or

• • Immediate action is required.

These messages frequently include links to fake websites designed to steal personal or financial information.

 

How to Protect Yourself

To keep your information safe, remember the following:

 

• • The CRA will never send unsolicited emails asking you to click links or provide sensitive personal details.

• • Do not click links or download attachments from any email you were not expecting.

• • Verify before responding — phishing emails often look convincing, but small details (sender address, spelling, urgency) can be red flags.

• • If you’re unsure whether a message is legitimate, contact our team. We are always happy to help verify authenticity.

• • You can also log into CRA’s secure “My Account” or “Represent a Client” portals to confirm whether any official messages or actions are required.

 

We’re Here to Help

With tax season just around the corner, these scams are expected to increase. EBT is committed to supporting our clients in staying cyber-aware and protected. If you receive a suspicious email or have questions about a message claiming to be from the CRA, reach out to us before you click.

Staying vigilant is the best defense.
Together, let’s stay cyber-smart this tax season.