Prize, refund, tax, fine
A refund, rebate, voucher or fine that needs your details or a payment to "release".
Emails, texts and calls pretending to be the CRA: a tax refund to claim, an INTERAC e-Transfer waiting, or a debt to pay now. The refund form collects identity and card details; the debt version wants gift cards or a transfer.
impersonating Canada Revenue Agency · first seen 2016-08 · updated 2026-09-02A text or email that a tax rebate is due, with a link to a form that collects identity and bank details. HMRC publishes a guide to recognising its real contacts and the fakes.
impersonating HMRC · first seen not dated · updated 2026-09-02A 2017 message spread on WhatsApp and by email: IKEA is giving away $500 vouchers for its 75th birthday, click to claim. The claim page collected personal details and asked recipients to forward the message to friends. IKEA said publicly it had no such promotion.
impersonating IKEA · first seen 2017-11 · updated 2026-09-02A refund you are "eligible" for, or a tax debt with a threat, by email, text or phone. The IRS states it does not initiate contact by email, text or social media to request personal or financial information.
impersonating IRS · first seen not dated · updated 2026-09-02An email about a traffic offence with a link or attachment to "view the details" or "video proof". The attachment carries malware; the link leads to a form. Real authorities notify by post.
impersonating a traffic authority (varies by country) · first seen 2016-12 · updated 2026-09-02