Is That Service Canada Email or Text a Scam?

Our verdict

Service Canada is a real government program that delivers federal services including Employment Insurance, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan, and Social Insurance Numbers. It is not a scam. The communications impersonating it often are. Service Canada impersonation regularly appears in CAFC top fraud type reports, particularly for scams targeting EI claimants, seniors receiving OAS/CPP, and newcomers applying for SIN cards.

The fake My Service Canada Account email is the most common variant. An email arrives claiming your EI payment was stopped, your OAS deposit requires verification, or your account was flagged for suspicious activity — with a link to 'log in and confirm your information.' The link goes to a convincing copy of the My Service Canada Account portal at canada.ca. Entering your credentials gives scammers full access to your real account, where they can redirect direct deposit payments to their own bank account. The CAFC confirmed direct deposit fraud on EI accounts as an active pattern in 2024.

The SIN scam targets newcomers. A call claims your Social Insurance Number has been 'linked to criminal activity' or 'is being suspended.' The caller demands you confirm your SIN, date of birth, and current address to 'protect' the number, or that you pay a fee to get a new SIN. SINs are free to replace through Service Canada; no payment is ever required. Service Canada does not call threatening criminal charges.

The benefit overpayment threat is a variation targeting EI recipients. A call or letter claims you were overpaid and must pay back a specific amount immediately, or face legal action, arrest, or wage garnishment. Legitimate overpayment recovery by Service Canada always comes through formal written correspondence — never demands for immediate gift card payment or direct bank-to-bank money transfer (wire transfer).

Legitimate Service Canada contact: My Service Canada Account at canada.ca/my-service-canada-account. Phone at 1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) for general inquiries; EI specific at 1-800-206-7218. Service Canada never sends unsolicited emails asking you to click a link to verify your account. Any letter requiring a response will have a return address and a Service Canada contact number — verify by calling the published number directly, not any number in the letter. Lost or stolen SIN cards: contact Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627.

Editorial note: This article reflects the state of publicly available information at the time of writing. Business practices, ownership, and safety records change over time. TrustChekr is not affiliated with any company reviewed here and does not receive payment for editorial coverage. Verdicts are based on documented evidence and are subject to revision.