With another tax season coming up, taxpayers have to be more aware than ever about scammers.
The latest scam making the rounds involves a person calling residents, claiming to be with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The call appears to be from the CRA’s official phone number and the person gives a fake name and employee ID number. The scammer then claims the person they are contacting owes the CRA thousands of dollars and if payment isn’t made immediately they threaten the person will be arrested.
“The important thing to know is if you have any suspicion about the call, tell the person you’re going to call them back, then go to CRA’s website and get their official phone number. Call that number to verify if they called you in the first place,” said Sgt. Amy Lahoda with the Cochrane RCMP.
Lahoda says their office takes numerous calls a day from people reporting scams. The RCMP has a fraud line people can contact if they are contacted by any scammers. If you do give out important information and you think you’ve been scammed, it is important to act fast in order to protect yourself.
“Make a note of the information you gave to the scammer, if you’ve given out bank information, inform your bank immediately. Change your passwords, get a new bank card, and if you give out your SIN (social insurance number) then inform CRA immediately,” Lahoda said.
Because of how assertive the scammers are and how alarming the intent of the call is, Maureen Wills, a prominent Cochranite, is concerned of the emotional damage they could have on seniors.
“These phone calls have started again, particularly to seniors, saying they owe taxes and they’re going to get arrested and they’d better send some money – all those things they do to seniors could give them a heart attack,” Wills explained.
She received a call from one of the scammers and, using her knowledge from working with Cochrane & Area Victim Services, was able to outsmart the caller and contact the RCMP.
“Some of these seniors, they have people look after their affairs, and they’re not capable or able to do this. And this is a dreadful thing to happen to them. I’m in Evergreen Manor and our person who looks after it, I spoke to her and she’s put a notice around to every room so that they’ll be aware. But there are a lot of seniors living on their own, and it’s not a nice thing.”
Lahoda explained that as more and more people put information online, a person cannot be too careful about who they share information with. For example, the CRA already knows a person’s SIN so you should never give it out over the phone.
She also said the CRA will send you notice if you are being audited. Or if something is wrong, you will receive letter correspondence.
The best defence for these scams is to be aware they are happening and do your due diligence to protect yourself.
“Get all the information that you can from the caller, ask them questions. Don’t ever feel bad about hanging up and then looking up the official number for the CRA to call them back,” Lahoda surmised.
“There’s no repercussion for that.”
