Another Victim Out $6,000 After Buying iTunes Cards To Pay Taxes – NOTE: You Can’t Pay Your Taxes With Gift Cards!

(OXFORD COUNTY, ON) – Oxford County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to issue a warning to the public after police have investigated another “Revenue Canada” scam that occurred at a residence in Ingersoll on April 25, 2016.

On April 25, 2016, police receive a call from an individual that had fallen victim to the Canada Revenue scam.

The investigation determined that the resident had received a message on Friday April 22, 2016 on their phone from a male claiming to represent the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The caller informed the resident that they owed money and required immediate payment or it would result in imprisonment. The number provided was 1-844-316-5264.

On Monday April 25, 2015 the resident returned the call to the number provided and was advised by a male that back taxes were owed from discrepancies found in tax filings. Serious threats of imprisonment, bank account seizures, vehicle seizures and public listing of name were made if the total amount of $5,936 was not paid immediately. When the resident informed the male they could not afford that amount on debit or credit cards they were told that ITunes gift cards would be acceptable payment. The process to obtain the cards was explained by a female fraudster who remained on the phone with the resident until the cards were purchased.

The ITunes cards were purchased in increments of $100 resulting in a loss of $6,000. Once these cards were obtained the resident was then transferred to speak to the male fraudster who advised to provide the serial numbers for the cards. At this time the male then advised the resident that the file had just been reviewed again and that more money was owed. The resident told the fraudster they needed time to think and was advised to return the call within an hour.

The resident then contacted the tax service that they were working with and were advised that they did not owe Canada Revenue any money and that police should be contacted immediately.

The investigation is continuing.

Listed are some guidelines that may helpful regarding CRA.

The Canada Revenue Agency does not do the following:

The CRA will not request personal information of any kind from a taxpayer by email.

The CRA will not divulge taxpayer information to another person unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer.

The CRA will not leave any personal information or threatening messages on an answering machine.

When in doubt, as yourself the following:

Am I expecting any calls from the CRA?

Does this sound too good to be true?

Is the caller able to identify themselves with an ID number that you can verify?

Is the caller asking for information I would not include with my tax return?

Is the call asking for information I know the CRA already has on my file?

Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?

It’s not always easy to spot a scam and new ones emerge daily. If you suspect that you are a target of fraud, don’t be embarrassed – you’re not alone. Contact police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) at www.antifraudcentre.ca or toll free 1-888-495-8501.

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