Over the last two days there has been an increase in calls to the Owen Sound Police Service regarding tax collection scams. Fortunately all of the callers had suspected a fraud and didn’t give out any information or lose any money.
Callers posing as Canada Revenue Agency collectors call unsuspecting victims claiming that they owe a stated amount of money in tax arrears. The callers are often very aggressive and threaten arrest or other consequences if payment is not received immediately.
The caller provides direction on how payment is to be made, often through electronic money transfers. Seniors and other vulnerable people are often targeted.
The Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre are both aware of this scam and have posted on their websites numerous recommendations to protect people from this and similar types of fraudulent criminal activity.
Persons suspecting fraudulent activity relating to their taxes are encouraged to report it to:
The C.R.A.’s “LEADS” Program: 1-866-809-6841
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Phone Busters) 1-888-495-8501
Your local Police Service
To protect yourself from frauds:
Never take immediate action. Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
Ask yourself why the C.R.A. would be asking for personal information over the phone or e-mail that they likely already have on file for you as a taxpayer.
Contact the C.R.A. to confirm that you in fact owe back taxes, or are entitled to a refund, before providing any personal or banking information.
For more information about Fraud Scams involving the C.R.A. visit the Canada Revenue Web page at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ntcs/bwr-eng.html