Find money owed to you › Spotting unclaimed money scams
Is that unclaimed money message a scam? How to tell
Independent, free guide. Not affiliated with BC Unclaimed or government.
Real unclaimed money is waiting for many Canadians, and scammers know it. Here's how to tell a real notice from a fake one, which websites are official, and who to tell if something feels off.
Five warning signs
1. "We found money for you," and a fee comes later
Scammers pose as government officials, lawyers or property locators and offer to get your money back for a fee (FCNB). The first message may not ask for money, but BC Unclaimed warns that "eventually the scammer will ask for money to cover expenses, taxes, fees" (BC Unclaimed). BC Unclaimed says it never retains third parties and first contacts claimants by letter through Canada Post, not by email.
2. An inheritance letter that asks for money upfront
A common version says money was recovered from a relative who died, and you must pay an upfront fee to receive it (FCNB). Real programs don't work this way. FCNB says: "Real government officials do not charge for you to search for or claim forgotten money."
3. A lookalike website or email address
The CRA lists fake addresses like cra-login-canada.com and warns that scammers use hyphens instead of dots, such as "-gc-ca". Official CRA pages start with canada.ca or end in cra-arc.gc.ca (CRA, Recognize a scam). Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link.
4. A polished message that might be AI-generated
The CRA warns that generative AI can produce "more realistic and convincing deceptions of official CRA communications." Good spelling and a crisp logo don't prove a message is real. If you're unsure, contact the agency directly using contact details from its official site (CRA, AI-generated tax scams).
5. Requests for your SIN, banking details or payment
The Bank of Canada says it "does not request the transfer of funds or payments from individuals" (Bank of Canada). The CRA won't ask for payment by e-transfer, cryptocurrency, prepaid cards or gift cards. A free "search" that asks for personal details first is another pattern FCNB warns about.
Fraud reports the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received in 2025, involving more than $704 million in reported losses. "Recovery pitch" scams, which promise to get lost money back for a fee, made up 933 reports and $25.9 million in losses (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Top 10 frauds in 2025).
Official websites only
Type these addresses yourself. Check that the address is exactly right, with dots, not hyphens.
- CRA: canada.ca (or addresses ending in cra-arc.gc.ca)
- Bank of Canada unclaimed balances: unclaimedproperties.bankofcanada.ca
- British Columbia: bcunclaimed.ca
- Alberta: alberta.ca/unclaimed-property
- Quebec: revenuquebec.ca
- New Brunswick: fundsfindernb.ca
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Report a scam
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: report online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.
- Your local police: the Anti-Fraud Centre recommends reporting to them too.
- Your bank: call the number on the back of your card if you shared banking details or sent money.
- The agency that was impersonated: CRA (or call 1-800-959-8281), Bank of Canada (1-800-303-1282), BC Unclaimed (1-888-662-2877), or FCNB (FundsFinderNB@FCNB.ca).
Sources: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre · CRA · Bank of Canada · BC Unclaimed
About paid finders
Paid finders are legal in some provinces. Alberta caps a locator's fee at 10% of the property's value and says to get the arrangement in writing (Alberta). New Brunswick limits it to 10% or less (FundsFinderNB).
You never need a finder, and you should never pay anyone upfront. You can search and claim yourself on the official sites above.
Frequently asked questions
Does BC Unclaimed contact people by email or text?
BC Unclaimed says it first notifies claimants by letter through Canada Post, not by email, and that it does not send unsolicited texts or social media messages.
Do I have to pay to claim unclaimed money?
Most official searches are free. BC Unclaimed and the Bank of Canada say there is no fee to search for or start a claim. Alberta may charge an administration fee on a claim. Never pay anyone upfront.
Are paid finders legal in Canada?
In some provinces, yes. Alberta and New Brunswick cap a finder's fee at 10% of the property's value. You never need a finder to claim.
Where do I report an unclaimed money scam?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501, and to your local police. Tell your bank if you shared financial details, and contact the agency the scammer pretended to be.