With tax season comes increased phone scams aiming to defraud Canadians.
A number of Montrealers have received scam telephone calls from people claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency warning them there will be a warrant issued for their arrest if they don鈥檛 transfer funds to cover unpaid taxes immediately.
Joe Di Filippo knew right away the message left on his voicemail was a scam but called the number back anyway.
He told the person who answered that he had reported them to the CRA. He kept a recording that he provided to CTV Montreal.
鈥淵es, hi. I just reported you guys to the Canadian Revenue Agency fraud department that you're ripping off Canadians,鈥� Di Filippo told the person on the other end. The call taker responded: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 do that.鈥�
But Di Filippo says: 鈥淵eah, I did that. Not that I can鈥檛 do that. I already did that.鈥�
But not everyone understands this is a scam.
According to the RCMP, these scammers typically target the most vulnerable, including seniors and newcomers to Canada, telling them they owe taxes or sometimes, that they are entitled to a refund but must provide personal information first.
Louise Laplante got the same call, but also didn鈥檛 fall for it.
鈥淒on鈥檛 panic. Don鈥檛 be scared,鈥� she advised others who may get a similar call. She reported it to the RCMP after getting three calls.
鈥淚 was vulnerable. I had been at the hospital. I was shaken anyway. Even if it does shake you, or they鈥檝e got you at a bad time, just don鈥檛 give in.鈥�
warns Canadians about the scam and even provides transcripts of some of the pitches scammers are using.
They include this voice message received by a CRA employee in Halifax:
鈥淭he reason behind this call is to notify you that we have registered a criminal case against your name concerning a tax evasion and tax fraud in the federal court house. So if you want any further information about this case, please make sure you give us a call back as quick as possible to our direct hotline number to the Canada Revenue Agency Headquarters. That is 613-927-9919, I will please repeat the number, it is 613-927-9919. If we don鈥檛 receive a call from your side, please be prepared to face the legal consequences, as the issue of tax is extremely serious and time-sensitive. So have a blessed time.鈥�
The CRA says it never: seeks personal information such as social insurance numbers or credit card numbers either over the phone or through email or text message; demands urgent payment using coercive or threatening language; or requests payment through prepaid credit cards.
If you receive a call saying you owe money to the CRA, call the CRA directly at 1-866-474-8272. Don鈥檛 be fooled if your caller ID indicates a call is coming from the CRA. That information can be altered by criminals.
If you do receive a suspicious call, don鈥檛 call that number back. Instead, call the CRA at 1-800-959-8281. And if the phone call is a fraud, report it to the at 1-888-495-8501.
-With a report from CTV Montreal鈥檚 Amanda Kline
