CRA tax scam nets $56K from Windsorites in January alone
In January alone, Windsor residents collectively lost $56,000 to scammers pretending represent the Canada Revenue Agency.
- Phone-a-fraud: What happens when you call out a scammer
- 100 reports in 1 day over Canada Revenue Agency scam
One person transferred $34,000 in total to someone pretending to be from the CRA, police say. The person learned it was a scam after calling the CRA directly.
Police said in a new release there were also four other reported incidents involving the same CRA scam and the losses to individual victims ranged from $3,000 to $8,500 each.
"We want to remind the public to remain vigilant and know that the CRA would never contact you by e-mail, nor would they ever have you pay an outstanding debt with a pre-loaded gift card or money gram," the Windsor Police Service said in the news release. "Please have conversations with your friends and family who may be more vulnerable to this type of scam."
Police say there have also been reports of automated messages left on answering machines. They advise people to not call the numbers back.
Meanwhile, the LaSalle Police Service on Thursday tweeted out phone numbers they say are connected to the scam:
#'s involved in the CRA phone scam<br>289-460-4252 <br>613-703-9843<br>844-567-5403<br>613-366-4254<br>984-567-5403<br>more to follow<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrimePreventionONT?src=hash">#CrimePreventionONT</a>
—@LaSallePoliceONHere's a few more #'s involved in CRA scams<br>416-477-2153<br>613-927-9686<br>859-342-0526<br>613-927-9675<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrimePreventionONT?src=hash">#CrimePreventionONT</a> <a href="https://t.co/6ktTVlxV1g">pic.twitter.com/6ktTVlxV1g</a>
—@LaSallePoliceONTips to stay safe
The following is information is posted on the CRA website, regarding fraudulent communications:
The CRA does not do the following:
- The CRA will not request personal information of any kind from a taxpayer by email.
- The CRA will not divulge taxpayer information to another person unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer.
- The CRA will not leave any personal information on an answering machine.
When in doubt, ask yourself the following:
- Am I expecting additional 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?
- Am I confident I know who is asking for the information?