Every new federal benefit triggers a wave of scams, and the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) is no exception. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre logged a sharp uptick in CGEB-themed phishing texts and emails in March and April 2026 — most pretending to be from "the CRA" and pointing to fake login pages designed to steal banking credentials. This guide shows you exactly what to look for, what the real CRA does, and what to do if you've been targeted.

The Single Most Important Rule

The CRA will never send you a text or email with a link to claim a benefit. CGEB is fully automatic — if you filed your 2025 tax return, you are already enrolled. There is no portal to sign in to, no form to complete, no "verification" step. Anything telling you otherwise is a scam.

The Most Common 2026 CGEB Scams

1. The "Verify to Receive Your CGEB" Text

Looks like: "CRA: Your Canada Groceries Benefit of $496 is pending. Verify your details to receive payment by July 5: cra-cgeb-verify[.]ca/claim". The link goes to a copycat CRA login page. Entering your username and password gives the scammer access to your real CRA My Account, your direct deposit details, and often your banking credentials.

2. The Fake "Eligibility Checker" Email

Looks like an official-looking email from "Canada Revenue Agency <noreply@cra-benefits-canada[.]com>" with a button that says "Check your CGEB eligibility now." The page asks for your SIN, date of birth, and banking information. The real CRA never asks for this information by email.

3. The Phone Call Demanding "Banking Verification"

A live caller (or a robocall) claims to be from the CRA and says your CGEB has been "blocked" because of incorrect banking info. They ask you to "confirm" your account number, transit number, and online banking password. The real CRA will never call to ask for online banking credentials.

4. The "Pay $X to Process Your CGEB" Scam

Often targets newcomers and seniors. The scammer claims that for a "small processing fee" (paid in gift cards, cryptocurrency, or e-transfer), they can "speed up" your CGEB payment. The CGEB has no fee, no application, and cannot be sped up.

5. The Fake Tax Preparer Promising "Bigger CGEB"

A pop-up storefront or social media ad promises to "maximize your CGEB" by filing your taxes a special way. They charge an inflated fee, file an incorrect return, and disappear. You're left with the CRA reassessing the return and potentially clawing back legitimate benefits.

Red Flags Checklist

• Any link in a text claiming to be from the CRA — the real CRA almost never sends links by text.
• Sender domain that isn't canada.ca or cra-arc.gc.ca.
• Urgency: "expires in 24 hours," "final notice," "claim now or lose payment."
• Requests for SIN, date of birth, banking password, or full credit card number.
• Requests for payment in gift cards, crypto, or wire transfer.
• Threats of arrest, deportation, or "legal action" if you don't comply.
• Promises that you can "get more CGEB" through some special process.

What the Real CRA Actually Does

• Sends letters by Canada Post for major benefit notices.
• Posts secure messages inside CRA My Account (you log in to read them).
• Sends short text alerts only to people who explicitly opted in — and never with links.
• Calls about audits or balances owing — but never asks for online banking credentials, SIN, or payment in gift cards.
• Deposits CGEB automatically based on the direct-deposit info already on file.

If You Think You Were Targeted

1. Don't click, reply, or call back. Take a screenshot of the message.
2. If you already entered information: change your CRA My Account password immediately and enable multi-factor authentication.
3. Change your online banking password and enable MFA.
4. If you entered banking details, call your bank's fraud line — most will reissue a new card and account number same-day.
5. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
6. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) — your carrier will block the sender.
7. Report phishing emails to phishing@cra-arc.gc.ca.

Protect Yourself Going Forward

• Sign up for CRA My Account email notifications — you'll be alerted any time direct deposit info changes.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on CRA My Account, your bank, and your email.
• Use a unique password for the CRA — not the same one as your bank or email.
• Talk to elderly relatives and recent newcomers about CGEB scams. They are the most heavily targeted groups.

Action Steps

1. If a text or email about CGEB looks suspicious, assume it is a scam.
2. Verify your CGEB enrolment only through our eligibility checker or directly inside CRA My Account.
3. Enable MFA on every account that touches your money.
4. Bookmark this page and share it with anyone in your household.

Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) and Canada Revenue Agency — Recognize a scam (canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-against-fraud).