Several area residents have reported to police phone and email scams in which a fraudster purports to be a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) representative, according to Sgt. Kevin Podbisky of Clearwater RCMP.
People are being called by someone who claims to be from the tax agency. The caller uses coercive and threatening language, and pressures the potential victim to pay a non-existent debt. The victim is often threatened with court charges, jail or deportation.
People are also being sent emails that connect to what appears to be the CRA website. On the website they are asked to enter extremely personal information.
Police say that Canada Revenue Agency will never ask you for information about your passport, health card or driver’s licence. It will also never leave personal information on an answering machine, or ask you to do the same.
Police offer the following tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim. Ask yourself the following questions:
• Is there a reason that the CRA may be calling?
• Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?
• Do I have a tax balance outstanding?
• Is the requester asking for information I would not include with my tax return?
• Is the requester asking for information I know the CRA already has on file for me?
• How did the requester get my email address or telephone number?
If you receive such a fraudulent call, hang up and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.
