The Better Business Bureau is warning people to be aware of email and phone scams that try and bilk people out of their tax return.
According to the BBB, the scam usually involves an email phishing scheme designed to prey on those who are unaware of the Canada Revenue Agency rules and regulations.
The organization, which services B.C. and the Lower Mainland, is reminding people to be vigilant this time of year. An email scam is common, the group said, however there is also a CRA phone scam that does not seem to go away.
“This has been in the news a dozen times this year,” says Evan Kelly, senior communications advisor for BBB serving the Lower Mainland. “It seems now that everyone has filed taxes, the threatening phone calls are heating up. Every day we are receiving emails or calls from people saying they’ve received aggressive calls from people saying they owe the government money or they will be put in jail. We just want to remind the public that this simply isn’t what the Canada Revenue Agency does.”
The CRA phone scam starts with someone politely saying that after a review the individual owes the government taxes and that they can pay by using a pre-paid credit card.
However, the caller is hesitant to respond if the individual presses for information such as file numbers or other contact information. The discussion can become heated very quickly with the supposed CRA clerk threatening the individual with arrest or in some cases deportation.
In some cases, they even resort to name calling.
The Better Business Bureau offers several tips to avoid falling victim to these scams and wants people to know that the CRA does not solicit by phone for payment or any other personal information.
If you receive a call like this, say you will contact CRA yourself and hang up. Do not return the call with the number that shows up on a call display because it is likely fake.
People should also be aware that the CRA:
• does not accept payment through pre-paid credit or gift cards;
• will not send emails containing any links.
• will not request personal information of any kind from a taxpayer by email or text message.
• will not divulge taxpayer information to another person unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer.
• will not send emails in English or French only: all communications are in both official languages.
• will not leave any personal information on an answering machine.
For more information, contact the Better Business Bureau’s Lower Mainland office at 604-682-2711 or visit www.bbb.org/mbc.
The BBB has served for more than 100 years helping people find businesses and brand they can trust. In 2014, people turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Reviews, all available for free at bbb.org.
