With tax season upon us, we need to be extra careful about CRA scams and misleading information related to tax benefits. Here’s what you should watch out for and how to protect yourself.
Warning signs
- Calls, emails or texts offering government related tax benefits
- Unsolicited calls, emails or texts requesting personal and banking information
- Unsolicited calls claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – this scam sometimes involves threatening or coercive language to scare individuals into paying fictitious debt to the CRA
How to protect yourself
- Learn about available tax credits.
- Know that government services are free to access.
- Familiarize yourself with the CRA scam by visiting their website. For example, CRA will never:
- by phone
- demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
- use aggressive language or threaten you with arrest or sending the police
- leave voicemails that are threatening or give personal or financial information
- by email
- give or ask for personal or financial information by email and ask you to click on a link
- email you a link asking you to fill in an online form with personal or financial details
- send you an email with a link to your refund
- demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
- threaten you with arrest or a prison sentence
- by mail
- set up a meeting with you in a public place to take a payment
- demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, or others
- threaten you with arrest or a prison sentence
- Get more information about personal income tax return from the CRA website
- by phone
Bonus tip!
CRA never uses text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to communicate with taxpayers about tax-related issues under any circumstance. If you receive text or instant messages claiming to be from the CRA, they are scams!
If you think you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or report online on their website.
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About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If we can’t help you directly, we will be happy to provide you with as much information as possible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.