Charlottetown Police Services remind the public to be aware of the CRA phone call scam and to protect themselves against being victims of fraud.
Over the last few weeks there has been an increase in reported cases.
The fraudster pretends to be with the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency), calls unwitting taxpayers and tells them that they owe money from a past tax return. The taxpayer is told that they will incur additional fees, face jail time, be arrested by police or be deported if they fail to pay.
In many cases, the phone number displayed is the same as local police which makes the victim believe it’s a legitimate phone call. The fraudster will then pressure the victim into making a payment which usually consists of a bitcoin transaction, wire transfer or prepaid gift cards.
These scammers are very threatening and entice fear.
The CRA will never:
- ask for information about your passport, health card or driver’s licence;
- demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon or others;
- use aggressive language or threaten arrest or sending the police;
- leave voicemails that are threatening or give personal or financial information.
Individuals can protect themselves by simply hanging up. Those who feel the need to verify if the CRA was actually trying to reach them can call the CRA directly to inquire why they were calling. Never provide personal information on inbound calls.
