It’s not a crime to hang up on suspicious calls.
The Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment (UFVRD) RCMP are warning the public to be cautious when answering a call from people claiming to be with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). They could be a criminal posing as an agent, looking to steal money.
The way the scam typically goes is the unsolicited phone call comes from someone identifying themselves as a CRA representative. As the call goes on, the caller will grow increasingly more aggressive in an effort to secure the victim’s sensitive financial information under the guise of delinquent income tax.
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“The call or correspondence appears urgent and authentic,” said Cpl. Mike Rail, spokesperson of the UFVRD. “If contacted, we urge you to pause a moment, hang up the phone and speak to a family member or friend before responding.
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The RCMP remind the public that CRA agents will not request personal information via phone or email, do not demand payment via prepaid credit card and do not threaten a client with court charges, jail time or deportation.
To confirm if you’ve been contacted by a legitimate CRA representative, please contact the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 for individual taxes and 1-800-959-5525 for business-related inquiries.
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