Central Hastings OPP are again advising the public to not provide personal information to fraudulent individuals who are posing as Canada Revenue Agency employees.
Suspects are leaving messages advising the person owes back monies and if they do not pay they are going to jail. The CRA does not leave these types of messages. On July 10 2018, a Marmora area woman was left such a message. The complainant then received a call from what she believed was the Madoc OPP’s local number. Suspects posed as a police officer demanding monies or they would be arrested.
The OPP and other police services will not call your house to advise you that you owe money for the CRA and that you will be arrested.
Warning sign(s) – How to protect yourself:
Do not take immediate action!
Ask yourself why the CRA would be asking for personal information over the phone or e-mail that they likely already have on file for you as a taxpayer.
Ask yourself why the CRA would want you to pay outstanding money with gift cards.
Contact the CRA to confirm that you in fact owe back taxes and do not use the phone number that the caller provides or that is listed on call display. Look up the phone number yourself from a reliable source.
Do not provide your personal information!
For more information about fraud scams involving the CRA visit the Canada Revenue Web page at www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/frdprvntn/menu-eng.html
Police are advising to only call your local police if you are a victim of a fraud, otherwise you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) and file a report with the CAFC by calling 1-888-495-8501 (Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST) or by using their online rep.