NPD warn public of CRA scam making rounds
By Nelson Daily Staff
The Nelson Police Department and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) want to warn the public of telephone calls or emails making the rounds that claim to be from the CRA.
Both organizations warn the public that this scam could result in identity and financial theft.
“The email notifies the receiver that they are entitled to an additional tax refund and to click on the link provided to initiate the process,” said NPD Sergeant Corey Hoy in a media statement.
“Receivers are prompted to enter their personal information which may be used maliciously. “
“This website link is not associated to the Canada Revenue Agency and has been confirmed to be a scam,” Hoy adds.
In a media release, CRA said some recent telephone scams involve threatening or forceful language to scare you into paying fictitious debt to the CRA while other email scams involve saying the taxpayer is entitled to a refund of a specific amount or saying the tax assessment has been verified and you are getting a tax refund.
These emails often have CRA logos or Internet links that look official. Some contain obvious grammar or spelling mistakes.
“These types of communication are not from the CRA,” the CRA release said.
“When the CRA calls you, it has established procedures in place to make sure your personal information is protected. If you want to confirm the authenticity of a CRA telephone number, call the CRA by using the numbers on its Telephone numbers page.”
Phone numbers for the CRA for business-related calls is 1-800-959-5525. The number for calls about individual concerns is 1-800-959-8281.
To help you identify possible scams, you can use the following guidelines:
The CRA:
- never asks for information about your passport, health card, or driver’s licence;
- never shares your taxpayer information with another person, unless you have provided the appropriate authorization; and
- never leaves personal information on your answering machine or asks you to leave a message containing your personal information on an answering machine.
When in doubt, ask yourself the following:
- Am I expecting money from the CRA?
- Does this sound too good to be true?
- 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?
- Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?
- Is there a reason that the CRA may be calling? Do I have a tax balance outstanding?
For information on scams, to report deceptive telemarketing, or if you have given personal or financial information unwittingly, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or toll free at 1-888-495-8501.
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