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B.C. RCMP

Beware of fraudulent communications that appear to be from Canada Revenue Agency

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Fraud!

"Fraud!"

The supposed CRA agent will typically attempt to:

  • gather personal information from the victim, or
  • intimidate victims to provide financial payment of an outstanding tax bill.

Victims are often threatened to be arrested within the hour and have their assets seized if they do not immediately comply with the fraudster’s demands.

Letter or email scam

The letter or email states that there is money to be claimed by the victim from the CRA, and all that is required is for the victim to provide certain information so that their file can be "updated" and the monies released. It asks for the information to be faxed or emailed to them, and provides a fax number.

The fraudsters are looking to gain identity and banking information from the victim so bank accounts can be accessed through false pretenses.

Prevention tips:

Unless you have called CRA for a form or a link to specific information, do not click on any link in an e-mail pretending to be from the CRA.

Phone scam

Victims often receive a phone call from a person claiming to work for the CRA who says that taxes are owed. The suspect usually requests immediate payment by credit card or will convince the victim to purchase a prepaid credit card and demand that they call the suspect back immediately with the information. The taxpayer is often threatened with court charges, jail or even deportation.

Prevention tips:

Hang up immediately if there’s anything suspicious or unprofessional about the call.

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