Cobourg police urge residents to be ‘tax scam savvy’ after CRA scam attempt | #socialmedia | #hacking | #aihp

Cobourg police are again urging residents to be “tax scam savvy” after a recent CRA scam attempt.

The Cobourg Police Service is reminding residents to be cautious of any communications involving claims from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and requests for personal information.

“Always look for red flags and double check if you are unsure if the communication is authentic, especially during tax season,” said police.

Just recently, on March 28, police said they received a report of a fraudulent email received by a resident from a fraudster posing as the CRA.

“The email was a fake email money transfer.”

The email included a link asking for a social insurance number (SIN) to have money deposited when clicked, reported police.

“The email also included an urgent deadline. Luckily, the resident recognized the red flags right away and did not proceed.”

Residents should be wary of tax scams like this one, stressed police.

“Online tax filing may save you time and be more convenient, but any communication that claims to be from CRA that requests personal information, such as a SIN card, credit card number, bank account number, or passport number should be looked closely at to ensure it is authentic. Take a moment to look for fake links and websites and remember the CRA doesn’t contact Canadians by text or social media.”

Police suggest residents look for the following red flags:

•Pressure from caller or email message to act now.

•Requests for information unrelated to a tax return or money owed.

•Fake links or websites; misspelled URLs and poor grammar and spelling are common signs.

Be sure to:

•Only deal with trustworthy tax services.

•Use complex online passwords.

•Double check – on the phone: Ask the CRA agent to verify their identity by asking for the caller’s name, phone number and office location.

For more information on how to recognize a tax scam and what you can expect when the CRA contacts you, visit the Government of Canada – Slam the scam webpage. Share the information with friends and family, especially those most vulnerable, added police.

If you or a family member were a victim of fraud, contact Cobourg police at 905-372-6821 (or the law enforcement agency in your jurisdiction.)

If a scammer has contacted you or a family member, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or by phone at 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free).

Visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website (https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm) for a list of known scams and to learn more about how to protect yourself, said police.