If you receive a threatening phone call, email or text from the CRA it’s likely a scam.
The Better Business Bureau warns it happens this time of year.
The scammers demand you pay money and if you don’t you’ll be arrested. They operate on fear so you’ll make a rash decision. They will contact you during off hours so you’re likely tired without a clear head.
Another spin on this scam is the ‘agent’ will call you claiming that they are issuing you a tax return and try to get your personal and sometimes financial information, so they can send your refund. The information that scammers collect can be used to steal your identity. These impersonators are growing increasingly sophisticated and will go to great lengths to make themselves appear legitimate. They will even give you fake employee badge numbers and can mask their caller ID to look like it is coming from CRA headquarters. Sometimes, scammers will follow-up their calls with emails that look like they are coming from an official source, trying to further legitimize themselves, and eliciting urgency for the victim to make payment.
Scammers also pressure you to make payments in prepaid cards, wire transfers or other non-traditional payments such as gift cards. They use these methods as they are highly untraceable and irreversible. CRA says they will never demand payment over the phone by Interact e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as Google Play.
If you are unsure about a call claiming to be from CRA, they recommend confirming your tax status through one of their secure online portals. You can also call the CRA’s Individual Tax Account Balance Automated Service at 1-866-474-8272, this line gives you information on outstanding tax balances.
The real CRA will always contact you by mail first, call during business hours, try to find ways to help you instead of threaten and will confirm your identity.
If you believe your Canadian Social Insurance Number has been compromised, contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218. For more information, see Social Insurance Number (Service Canada website).
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