The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam is a phone scam where fraudsters call individuals and claim to be from the CRA. They claim that the person owes money to the CRA and must pay immediately or face serious consequences, such as jail time or deportation. The fraudsters often use aggressive tactics and threaten victims with arrest, court action, and other legal action if they do not pay. The goal of the scam is to scare victims into paying money to the fraudsters. This scam is becoming increasingly common during tax season, when the CRA is actively sending out notices and conducting audits.
Many people are unaware of their rights and responsibilities when it comes to taxes, and the fraudsters exploit this lack of knowledge to their advantage. The CRA has warned Canadians to be aware of this scam and to be vigilant when they receive calls from individuals claiming to be from the CRA. The CRA will never call and demand payment or threaten legal action. Instead, they will send notices by mail. Furthermore, the CRA will never request payment in the form of prepaid credit cards, Bitcoin, or other forms of electronic payment. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the CRA, hang up and contact the CRA directly to verify the information.
If you have already been a victim of this scam, you should report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. You should also contact your local police and your financial institutions to report the incident. The CRA also recommends that you contact your local credit bureaus to ensure that your credit is not compromised. It is important to be aware of this scam and to protect yourself from becoming a victim. Be sure to verify the identity of callers before giving out any personal or financial information. If you are ever uncertain about a call, hang up and contact the CRA directly.