It’s tax season.
It’s also a time culprits are trying to perpetrate a scam involving the Canada Revenue Agency and tax returns.
Two alert Vernon residents informed the Vernon RCMP detachment of the would-be scam, where people receive an authentic-looking e-mail supposedly from the Canada Revenue Agency informing them they are eligible for a tax return, but need to click onto a website to provide banking information.
“Our office has received several calls on it,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk.
“Here is another example of individuals attempting to get money from honest residents of our community.”
The e-mail states to the recipient that “after the last calculation of your fiscal activity, we have determined that you are eligible to receive a tax refund of CAD 274.00”
“It wasn’t a lot of money but it was enough to tweak the recipient’s interest,” said Molendyk, adding both residents did not fall for the scam.
There are a couple of clues on the realistic e-mail to inform you it’s not legitimate.
The tax credit officer’s name is spelled Barbara HC)bert, and there is poor grammar in the final paragraph: “A refund can be delayed a variety of reason…”
“Nine times out of 10, when you read these, if you really read the wording, you’ll see grammar and punctuation mistakes quite often,” said Molendyk.
“These appear to be translated by a person where English is not likely their first language.”
The e-mail can not be forwarded as well.
Molendyk said the local detachment is advising residents that this scheme, along with many other scams, is out there with criminals trying to get a person’s bank number or social insurance number.
