TL;DR: The CRA says it does not send texts or emails about benefits or tax credits with links to click. It only texts for multi-factor authentication codes, and only if you chose that option. It doesn’t use WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. So any text about your GST/HST credit, Disability Tax Credit, Home Accessibility Tax Credit or OAS with a link, a deadline or a code is a scam. Check benefits by typing canada.ca yourself.
The scam messages
The CRA’s scam page specifically warns about messages:
- about the GST/HST credit, with urgent deadlines and links to "application forms";
- about the Home Accessibility Tax Credit, Disability Tax Credit and Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit;
- about Old Age Security, sometimes with a link and a code.
The CRA’s rule: it does not send texts or emails about benefits or tax credits with links asking you to click them.
The newest variations on the CRA’s list
The CRA updated its scam page on 29 October 2026. Alongside the GST/HST and benefit messages, it now lists:
| Scam | How it arrives | What it claims |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of assessment phishing (marked new) | Your return has errors; download a "revised" notice before a deadline | |
| Fake benefit payment sites | Website | Non-existent payments such as a "$2,000 direct deposit," a "$680 rent payment" or a "$3,900 essentials payment" |
| Grocery Rebate | Email, text, messaging | Apply for a rebate that was a one-time payment in July 2023 |
| Low-income seniors | Messaging, website | Extra CRA payments for seniors, with links to Telegram or WhatsApp groups |
| CPP and OAS | Text | Reply "Y" about your tax assessment, then a fake CPP link |
| Messages with your details | Text | Includes your name, date of birth or SIN to look real, then asks for payment or clicks |
| "Text HELP" | Text | Claims an account error and asks you to reply HELP and share details |
The "messages with your details" one matters most. A scammer quoting your SIN back to you isn’t proof they’re the CRA; it’s proof your data has leaked somewhere.
On the real Groceries and Essentials Benefit: the CRA says eligible people won’t need to apply, but must file their 2024 and 2025 tax returns. So any message asking you to "apply" through a link is fake.
How the CRA actually contacts you
| Channel | What the CRA does | What it never does |
|---|---|---|
| Text | MFA codes only, if you chose phone | Refunds, payments, account fixes, links |
| Notice of a new message in your CRA account, or a link you asked for on a call | Links asking for personal or financial info; emails from a named person asking you to reply | |
| Phone | May ask you to verify identity; automated reminders about filing or GST/HST deadlines (no personal info requested) | Demand e-Transfer, crypto, prepaid or gift cards; threaten arrest or deportation; arrange to meet in public; charge a fee |
| WhatsApp / Messenger | Never | Never |
So the honest answer to "does the CRA send text messages?" is: only six-digit codes you asked for.
Why benefit scams work
People expect GST/HST credit payments every quarter, so a text about "your credit" doesn’t feel odd. Add a deadline ("apply by Friday or lose your payment") and a link to a perfect copy of the CRA sign-in page, and the scam writes itself. The fake page collects your CRA login, SIN and bank details, and then someone changes your direct deposit.
How to check safely
- Sign in to CRA My Account by typing the address yourself.
- Real addresses start with canada.ca or end with cra-arc.gc.ca.
- For benefits, check official Government of Canada or provincial pages.
- For calls, hang up and call a CRA number you find yourself.
If you clicked and entered details
- Sign in to CRA My Account directly and check your direct deposit and address.
- Call the CRA using an official number.
- Read our guide to a compromised CRA My Account.
- If you gave your SIN, see SIN stolen: what to do.
Where to report
- The CRA’s reporting page or reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca
- Local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Forward the text to 7726 (how)
Why do they have your number? A free exposure check shows where your details have leaked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CRA send texts about the GST/HST credit?
No. The CRA does not send texts or emails about benefits or tax credits with links. Any such text is a scam.
Does the CRA ever send text messages?
Only multi-factor authentication codes, if you chose the phone option.
Does the CRA use WhatsApp?
No. The CRA does not use WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
A text from the CRA included my SIN. Is it real?
Not necessarily. The CRA warns that scam texts may include your name, date of birth or SIN to look genuine. Don’t click; check your CRA account directly.
Do I need to apply for the Groceries and Essentials Benefit?
The CRA says eligible people won’t need to apply, but must file their 2024 and 2025 returns. Messages asking you to apply through a link are scams.
How do I check my GST/HST credit safely?
Sign in to CRA My Account by typing the address yourself, or check official canada.ca pages.