Southeast Asian community is the target for scam artists using a tax angle to grab some of your cash.

Crime 100By Staff

February 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Halton Regional Police are warning the public about a tax-related phone scam that has resurfaced, primarily targeting the Southeast Asian community.

The fraudsters are claiming to be members of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and are making phone calls advising the unsuspecting victims they owe the government large sums of money in taxes. If these taxes are not paid back immediately they will be arrested.

These fraudulent callers instruct the victims to purchase prepaid credit cards in the amount owed and to forward them immediately to the “CRA Agent”.

CRA bldg photo

Canadian Tax collectors do not call you and demand instant payment for outstanding taxes. Always get a phone number from anyone who calls you – and call them back.

The CRA does not request personal information of any kind by email and has a formal process in place for those who owe taxes and would never demand cash payment immediately.

Halton Police have received one to two fraud reports per week from victims claiming they have fallen prey to this scam with losses from $2,000-$5,000 each. Unfortunately any investigation conducted to date has quickly led to overseas suspects.

Your best protection is to avoid taking immediate action and contact the CRA directly to confirm if in fact you are required to make a payment.

If you have become victim to this fraud please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center directly to file a report.

Further information about this scam can be found on the CRA website

Anyone with information on this scam can contact Halton Police Fraud Investigators at 905-825-4747 ext. 8739 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting “Tip201” with your message to 274637 (crimes).

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1 comment to Southeast Asian community is the target for scam artists using a tax angle to grab some of your cash.

  • Steve Robinson

    How gullible can people be? Don’t they have someone around them to ask about this bizarre request?