March is fraud prevention month, and with tax season in full swing, police are reminding residents to be cautious and protect themselves from tax related scams and frauds that tend to circulate more frequently this time of year.
One particular scam making its rounds this time of year is the commonly known Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam. The scam is one that tricks a victim into either paying a sum of money, or disclosing personal or financial information of a sensitive nature, such as their social insurance number.
In most cases, the scam starts when the victim receives a phone call from someone claiming to be from the CRA and is told there is an outstanding tax amount due.
The scammer will request immediate payment by credit card, prepaid gift cards, e-transfer or some other quick form of monetary payment. The fraudster will often pressure the victim into paying by threatening arrest, jail or financial sanctions if they do not comply.
Potentially, there could be an immediate monetary loss, but disclosing personal or sensitive information to these scammers can also lead to identity theft or other forms of fraud.
“The CRA scam is not new, but at this time of year with tax returns on our minds and to-do lists, it tends to pop up a lot more often,” Vernon North Okanagan RCMP media relations officer Const. Chris Terleski said. “As is the case with any scam, education and awareness are key to prevention. The earlier you are able to recognize you are being…
