Impersonations of tax officials

Eerie calls to Aylmer senior

Tax time means it’s tax scam time. One Aylmer senior has already been targeted by fraudsters. She has received “strange calls” from  individuals posing as Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) agents.

“The first call was in late January. It was eerie. I was told that someone was watching me from outside my house and that I had better call back,” said the senior who wishes to remain anonymous.

“The second call in early February said that I or my attorney should return the call quickly. The man on the phone said he was a police sergeant. Then I got another call from a man saying he was a revenue agent. He told me to call a number so that they could help me,” she told the Bulletin.

The number the senior was told to call was 647-800-6901. The Aylmer resident is not alone; many online comments report similar calls.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency website, there are many scammers impersonating CRA agents by telephone or email.

The CRA emphasizes that an agent will not ask for personal information of any kind by email or by text-message, request payments by prepaid credit cards, give taxpayer information to another person unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer, or leave personal information on an answering machine.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises fraud targets to take no immediate action. “Verify that what you are being told is the truth. Ask yourself why the CRA would be asking for personal information over the phone or email which they likely already have on file for you as a taxpayer. Contact the CRA to confirm that you owe back taxes, or are entitled to a refund before providing any personal or banking information.”

Fraud victims can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre toll-free line: 1-888-495-8501.