Examples of unauthorized/misleading communications

Example 1 – Mailings

You may receive a mailing that appears to be similar to a Service Canada communication.

To help you determine if it is a genuine mailing from Service Canada, here is an example of what a Service Canada envelope looks like:

There are 2 envelopes showing – the front of an envelope with the Service Canada logo on the top left hand side. The second envelop shows the back with the Canada wordmark in the centre of the flap.

Example 2 – Email and online form

You may receive an unauthorized communication that claims to be from Service Canada but is NOT.

This is an example of an unauthorized email asking you to fill out an online form and provide credit card information. Service Canada would not ask you to complete such a form via email or ask for your credit card information online.

Unauthorized email

From: Service Canada <administration@servicecanada.gc.ca>
Date: September 11, 2013 02:50:46
Subject: Online form

Service Canada

In the year 2013, following the adoption of the Law on the computerization of data of the Canadian citizens and citizens, you must fill the form online. Any refusal to fill the form or to declare false information is guilty of an infringement and liable, on declaration of culpability by summary procedure, of a maximum fine of 10,000$ and a one year maximum imprisonment. All the personal information created, preserved or collected by Canada Service are protected under the terms of the Law on protection from the personal information from Government of Canada. The treatment of the files can be delayed by the tender of the forms after the deadline.

Click here to fill out the online form

Please accept our best regards.

Service Canada
Information Centre of Canada
Ottawa ON K1A 0J9

Unauthorized online form

The online form referenced in the email asked for the following personal information:

  • First and last name
  • Date of birth
  • Social Insurance Number
  • Mailing address
  • Telephone numbers
  • Housing situation and when did you start living there?
  • Amount of your monthly payments for your rent or mortgage
  • Driver’s license number, issuing province and expiration date
  • Your mother’s maiden name
  • Previous address(es)
  • Job information (employer’s name, employee status, type of job, employed since when, employer’s address, work telephone)
  • Information on gross monthly income (employment income, other income, sources of other income)
  • To receive a reimbursement from Environment Canada you must give your credit card information (name on the credit card, credit card number, expiration date and security code)

Example 3 – Online Survey

This is an example of an unauthorized survey offering a free gift upon completion. Credit card information is also solicited. Service Canada does not offer gifts for responding to surveys and will not ask for your credit card information online.

This is an image of the survey from Service Canada. There is a pop-up with the wording “Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in an anonymous Servicecanada.gc.ca survey. Upon completion you will be offered an exclusive free gift for your participation”.

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