Fraud prevention – ongoing scam

Fraud Prevention

Peel Police issued this story on their website regarding an ongoing Scam regarding the Canada Revenue Agency. Please read their post and share it with your family and friends.

Peel Police – Warning of Ongoing Scam

Posted on Wednesday January 29, 2014

Peel – Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau would like to advise the public about an ongoing scam involving fraudulent communications from the CRA. Police have received numerous reports from residents having received phone, mail or emails appearing to be from the Canada Revenue Agency. These communications indicate to the receiver that either the CRA owes them a refund or that they owe the CRA in back taxes, which is to be paid immediately.

The communications will go on to instruct the receiver to provide personal information in order to either receive the benefit or pay the outstanding bill.

As per the Canada Revenue Agency Website, the CRA will not request personal information of any kind of a taxpayer by email.

Here are some tips to remember when you are in receipt of any communication (phone, mail or e-mail) appearing to be from the CRA:

• Do not take immediate action. Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
• Ask yourself why the CRA 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 CRA 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 CRA visit the Canada Revenue Web page at

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/corporate/security/protect-yourself-against-fraud.html

To learn more about this type of scam and other fraud scams currently affecting Canadians. Please visit the Canadian Anti- fraud centre website at www.antifraudcentre.ca

Anyone with information in relation to this type of scam, or feel they have been victimized, is asked to contact Fraud Investigators at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3335. Information can also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting their website at www.peelcrimestoppers.ca, or by sending a text message to CRIMES (274637) with the word “Peel” and then your tip.