As of Tuesday, the Battlefords RCMP Detachment had fielded about 200 calls over the previous 10 days from members of the public who reported receiving calls from persons claiming to be representatives of the Canada Revenue Agency.
The callers claimed back taxes were owed and demanded payment immediately. They threatened the police would be dispatched to arrest them if they failed to make payment.
The RCMP and Canada Revenue Agency remind the public to be aware of these ongoing phishing scams and to be confident the CRA will never request information from a taxpayer pertaining to passports, health cards or driver's licences. Anyone who receives a similar call from someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency or someone calling on their behalf is encouraged to not provide any personal information and to end the call.
Remember:
If it sounds suspicious, it likely is.
If it’s too good to be true, it likely is.
Never provide your personal information, including credit card or payment information, over the phone to someone you don’t know.
If you are a victim of a phone scam and have given out personal information, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: [email protected].
For information on how to protect yourself against fraud, including how to recognize a scam and examples of fraudulent communications, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/frdprvntn/menu-eng.html or go to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Web page at: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/phishing-eng.htm.
Other resources:
Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-654-9426.
SeniorBusters Program at 1-888-495-8501 toll free, anywhere in North America.
If you have information regarding this or any other crime, please contact Battlefords RCMP Detachment at 306-446-1720 or if you have information and you wish to remain anonymous in your reporting, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a tip via their website: http://saskcrimestoppers.com/ or text in a tip: TIP206 + your tip to CRIMES (274637).
