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RCMP and CRA raise awareness about ongoing email and phone scams
February 11, 2016 Ottawa, Ontario Canada Revenue Agency
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are warning Canadians about an ongoing scam in which taxpayers across the country receive phone calls or emails from individuals impersonating CRA employees. These people are scammers.
The scammers tell taxpayers that they either owe money to the CRA or have a tax refund. Taxpayers are threatened with arrest or jail time if they do not take immediate action and provide money or personal or financial information.
Quick facts
- The RCMP plays a crucial role in educating the public about scams, and has a number of programs in place to track fraud, including one run by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).
- The CAFC monitors all types of scams, and warns Canadians to be on the lookout for scammers during the upcoming tax season.
- The RCMP also works closely with the CRA to raise awareness about tax-related scams.
- When CRA employees call taxpayers, they follow established procedures to ensure personal information is protected.
- To confirm the authenticity of a call, contact the CRA by using its official telephone number for individual tax enquiries: 1-800-959-8281.
- You can also verify your individual tax account through a secure CRA portal: My Account.
- If you believe you may be the victim of fraud or have given personal or financial information in error, contact your local police service and your financial institution.
Quotes
– Diane Lebouthillier, P.C., M.P., Minister of National Revenue
– Todd Shean, Assistant Commissioner, RCMP’s Federal Policing Special Services
