CRA warns people about $250 Working Canadians Rebate scam

The Working Canadians Rebate (WCR) isn’t even here yet, but the scams have already started.

The federal government proposed the WCR on November 21 to provide extra relief to Canadians during tough economic times.

“To help them buy the things they need and save for the things they want, the government announced that it will be introducing legislation in Parliament that would provide for the delivery of a new $250 Working Canadians Rebate to 18.7 million Canadians in early spring 2025,” wrote the feds in a previous announcement.

The rebate would be granted to those who worked in 2023 and earned up to $150,000.

Prime Minister Trudeau introduced the $250 cheques along with the temporary GST holiday relief.

While the GST relief passed in the House of Commons, the Working Canadians Rebate was omitted from the legislation.

That’s because NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he would not support the Liberal’s measure unless the GST holiday and the cheques were split into two pieces of legislation.

Singh took issue with the $250 cheques because the proposal did not include payments to seniors, people living with disabilities, and people who were unable to work.

That means legislation specific to the $250 rebate is currently on the back burner, and no eligible Canadians have received the payment.

However, it appears that scammers are using the proposed rebate as a way to try and swindle Canadians.

On Thursday, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) warned people that any email or text message asking them to deposit or claim the Working Canadians Rebate was a scam.

“The Working Canadians Rebate will be automatically delivered by direct deposit or by cheque to eligible individuals after enactment of the legislation,” continued the CRA, adding that it does not text or email links or require Canadians to fill out any forms for payments.

The CRA has detailed other warning signs of scams on its website.

It notes that it will never demand or pressure immediate payment via Interac e-transfer, cryptocurrency, prepaid credit cards, or gift cards from any retailer.

The CRA will also not threaten to deport or arrest you, use aggressive or threatening language, try to set up an in-person meeting to collect a payment, charge a fee to speak to an agent, or ask for personal or financial information in a voicemail or email.

You can find more information on identifying scams and a list of current scam alerts on the CRA website.