Every few weeks a new “payment” goes viral: a $2,400 cheque for seniors, a grocery rebate, a doubled GST credit. Some are real, most are not, and a few are real news twisted into something bigger. Below, each claim is checked against Canada.ca, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
How to spot a benefit scam or rumour
- It asks you to click, apply or claim. The CRA does not send texts or emails about benefits with links to click. It only texts sign-in security codes, and only if you signed up for them.
- It promises the same amount to everyone. Real benefits depend on your age, income or situation.
- The date keeps moving. Fake payments are always “coming next month.”
- It wants money or passwords. The CRA will not ask for payment by gift card, prepaid card, e-transfer or cryptocurrency, and it does not send refunds by e-transfer or text.
- It isn’t on an official site. Real federal pages start with canada.ca or end with gc.ca. CRA pages can also end with cra-arc.gc.ca.
- It’s urgent or scary. Threats of arrest, a “suspended” SIN or a “last chance” deadline are signs of a scam.
When a real new payment is announced, it’s on Canada.ca first. Most federal benefits are paid automatically once you file your taxes or are enrolled.
Rumours we’ve checked
- A new $2,400 OAS and CPP payment: False. There is no special $2,400 payment for seniors.
- An $1,800 CRA grocery rebate: False. The only Grocery Rebate was paid once, in July 2023.
- OAS is going up in October: Partly true. It rises 1.4%, but a 10% raise at 65 is not law.
- A one-time $500 payment for seniors: False. The last one was paid in July 2020.
- $1,300 for all seniors: False. No federal program pays this.
- A CPP boost: Partly true. CPP rose 2.0% in January 2026 and the enhancement grows slowly, but there’s no lump sum.
- The GST cheque was doubled: Partly true. It rose about 25% and had a one-time 50% top-up, but wasn’t doubled.
- A June top-up to the GST credit: True. Paid once, on June 5, 2026, automatically.
- The Canada Disability Benefit pays $2,400: Partly true. That’s roughly the yearly maximum, paid monthly, and you must apply.
- A $150 Canada Disability Benefit payment: True. A one-time payment started September 17, 2026.
- $2,000, $680, $533 and $3,900 government payments: False. The CRA says none of them exist.
- The carbon rebate is coming back: False. The last payment was in April 2025.
- “Your CRA refund is pending, click here” texts: False. The CRA doesn’t send refunds or benefit links by text.
- “Your SIN has been suspended” calls: False. Service Canada doesn’t lock your SIN by phone.
If a scam reached you
- If you didn’t click or reply, delete the message. You haven’t lost anything.
- If you gave banking details or sent money, call your bank right away.
- If you gave your CRA sign-in, SIN or date of birth, call the CRA at 1-833-995-2336 (Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 7 pm Eastern time) so it can protect your account.
- If you think someone is using your SIN, call Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627.
- If you lost money, report it to your local police and ask for a file number.
Then report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at 1-888-495-8501, Monday to Friday, 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time, or online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca. Report it even if you lost nothing. It helps police find the people behind it.
Be careful of anyone who offers to get your lost money back for a fee. The CAFC warns never to send “recovery” money.
Not sure if a letter is real?
Real letters from Service Canada come in a beige or white envelope with the Canada wordmark. CRA letters and notices also show up in your CRA account. For a plain-English guide to the letters people get most, see Got a letter from Service Canada or the CRA?
Where to check real payment dates
The dates and amounts in the benefit calendar on our home page are checked against Canada.ca. If a post names a payment date that isn’t there, be careful.