As we head into tax season in Canada (due April 30, 2017), CRA and police are warning Canadians about tax scams that are stealing millions of dollars from innocent people across the country.
What’s on the rise this year, is tax email scams:
So-called CRA scams began popping up in 2013 and have become a popular tool for defrauding people by phone or email, according to the RCMP. The scam phone calls that take place are quite similar to the email scams. Someone claiming to be from the CRA calls and, in a conversation that starts out calmly enough, tells the victim that they have made an error on their tax return or neglected to file it. More concerning, the phone number may seem legitimate to those with caller ID. [Global News]
To report suspected scams, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or toll free at 1-888-495-8501. If you believe that you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information unwittingly, contact your local police service, financial institution, and credit reporting agencies.
