Scam and fraud prevention – Service Canada

Helpful information to help protect you from scams and fraud, as well as identify if Service Canada has contacted you or if the Government of Canada (GoC) website you visit is accurate.

Confirm if Service Canada contacted you

Letters and mail correspondence

All envelopes containing official documents from Service Canada have the official Canada wordmark and will be beige or white.

Phone calls, text messages and emails

We will not ask you to provide personal information.

If someone reaches out to you claiming to work for Service Canada, contact the program or service that reached out to you:

• by phone: 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
• using a teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-926-9105

An officer will assist you in getting more information about the program or service. They will also check if the person's name is on the list of Service Canada investigators and guide you to the right program or service.

Web re-routes and sponsored search results

When you apply for a benefit through Service Canada, make sure you are dealing directly with the Government of Canada by visiting the Service Canada Benefits page for a trusted, up-to-date list of benefits and funding opportunities.

If you are typing a Government of Canada link into your address bar, please consider doing the following:

• double-check the link you have entered for errors and typos
• copy and paste links directly from official sources whenever possible
• make sure that the search engine result you click on is an official Government of Canada link
• trust your instincts and leave if something feels off about the page you are on

Protect yourself from fraud and get additional information on our unauthorized or misleading communications page.

If you witness fraud

You can find information on reporting fraud, abuse or misuse.