CBSA Warns Canadians About Rising Scams Impersonating Officials

The Canada Border Services Agency is alerting citizens to a growing wave of scams in which fraudsters pose as CBSA officials to steal personal and financial information.

Authorities say these schemes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using fake phone numbers, email addresses, logos, and employee names to appear legitimate.

How the Scams Work

Fraudsters may contact Canadians via phone, text, email, or even social media, claiming to be CBSA officers.

In many cases, they try to pressure individuals into paying alleged duties or taxes, or demand personal information such as Social Insurance Numbers (SIN) or credit card details.

CBSA emphasizes that the agency never:

• Contacts individuals to request payment or personal information via phone, text, or email.
• Requests Social Insurance Numbers or credit card details through electronic communications.
• Threatens penalties like jail time for unpaid duties on a package.

Canadians who receive suspicious messages are advised to hang up, ignore the request, and report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Tips to Protect Yourself

As part of Fraud Prevention Month, the CBSA recommends:

• Always verify any message claiming to be from CBSA.
• Never provide personal or financial information to unsolicited contacts.
• Report suspicious communications promptly to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
• Visit the CBSA website for official guidance on identifying and avoiding scams.

Impact and Consequences

These scams can have serious financial and personal consequences for victims, including identity theft, financial loss, and long-term credit damage.

Beyond individuals, these fraudulent schemes erode trust in legitimate government services, making Canadians more cautious when dealing with official communications.

What’s Next?

The CBSA and other federal agencies continue to monitor scam activity and provide updated guidance to the public.

Authorities urge vigilance and regular verification of any communication claiming to be from government officials.

Additional public education campaigns and alerts will continue throughout the year to curb fraudulent activity.

Summary

The Canada Border Services Agency is warning citizens about scams in which fraudsters impersonate CBSA officials.

The scams often use fake logos, employee names, and threatening messages to trick Canadians into sharing personal or financial information.

The CBSA never requests payment, SINs, or credit card details by email, text, or phone.

Canadians are urged to ignore such communications and report them to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Scammers are pretending to be CBSA officials to steal personal and financial data.
• Fraudsters may use fake phone numbers, emails, logos, and employee names.
• CBSA never asks for payment, SINs, or credit card numbers via electronic communication.
• Threats of penalties or jail time for unpaid duties are scams.
• Canadians should hang up, ignore suspicious messages, and report them to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
• Fraud prevention guidance is available on the CBSA website.
• Ongoing monitoring and public awareness campaigns are underway to reduce scam activity.