Government of Canada refund scam targets people in Mississauga and Brampton

A CPP refund scam circulating in Mississauga and Brampton looks like a message from Service Canada.

The message appearing on cell phones, tells the recipient that the Government of Canada has sent a CPP (Canada Pension Plan) payment via Interac.

The scammer then prompts the person to reply “Y” to accept the transfer.

But this is not a message from the government.

“Occasionally, Canadians may receive a communication by telephone, mail or email that claims to be from the Government of Canada (Service Canada) but is not,” Service Canada notes on their website.

Once you respond to the text or email, the fraudster will attempt to get personal information such as a social insurance number, bank or credit card information or a passport number.

“The unauthorized communication may state that this personal information is needed so that the client can receive a refund or benefit payment,” the Service Canada warning page notes.

The Government of Canada doesn’t text people regarding CPP payments. They provide information about potential pension benefits through mailings, a dedicated CPP and Old Age Security (OAS) call centre, webpages with information for seniors and various outreach programs.

Messages from the Government of Canada (Service Canada) will provide contact information that is consistent with the information provided on Government of Canada websites.

They will not make a request by email for personal information of any kind, including financial or credit card information. The Government of Canada will not communicate client information to a third party unless formal consent is provided by the client.

And Government of Canada will not leave any personal information on an answering machine.

If in doubt, check the Service Canada website or contact them.