File before a scammer has the chance to use your information to file a fake return, BBB says.
The following column was submitted to the Tri-City News from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Tax scams are amongst the most stubborn cons out there.
They reappear every year, with a slightly different spin.
The most common tax scam involves someone posing as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), trying to trick you into either paying up or sharing personal information.
With online filing opening on Feb. 21, Canadians are being encouraged to file their tax returns electronically and as soon as possible.
Filing online is the preferred method, as the CRA is able to produce your notice of assessment (NOA) and refund faster, versus a paper return, which the CRA anticipates could take up to 10–12 weeks to process.
While filing taxes online is faster and more convenient, it also widens the net of opportunity for scam artists to target Canadians.
Taxpayers are encouraged to watch for various versions of tax scams such as phishing emails with malicious links, fake CRA websites or calls asking for personal information, and communications through non-traditional mediums such as text messages and direct messages on social media.
In these scams, imposters go to great lengths to appear real, for example, they may provide a fake badge number and name or have their caller ID appear to be from Ottawa or a CRA unit, cloak emails to look like official websites and much more.
