Police in Nanaimo are warning the public about fraudsters posing as Canada Revenue Agency agents.
The fraud involves either threatening phone calls for non-payment of money owing or an e-mail indicating the agency has made an overpayment on a tax refund.
“The fraud is so active our switchboard operators have indicated they have literally received dozens of phone calls from a variety of concerned citizens receiving similar threats or e-mails,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “Fortunately, most are only simply reporting it and have not fallen prey to the fraud.”
In the telephone fraud, a phone call is received from a man identifying himself as Canada Revenue Agency officer Tony Williams, who has managed to obtain the name of a member of the household and says this individual owes $1,200 in federal taxes.
If the money is not paid immediately an arrest warrant will be issued.
One person who was threatened called the number back and spoke with an irate male who quickly hung up on him. The phone number called had a 613 Ontario area code.
In the refund scam, an e-mail is received saying an Interac e-transfer has been received from the agency entitling the victim to a refund. The e-mail directs the victim to open a link and fill out personal information, including social insurance number, date of birth, driver’s license and debit card information.
The Canada Revenue Agency never sends out e-mails or requests for personal information and never asks for social insurance numbers or date of birth.
For more information on the scam and others, please visit www.bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca or the RCMP anti-fraud centre at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.