The OPP in Huron County are once again cautioning local residents that the Canada Revenue Agency scam remains very active.
Over the last month, officers have investigated at least four additional scams that have involved victims sending electronic transfers of bitcoins and gift card authorization codes to scammers.
The most recent scam occurred this week in Bluewater involving a 34-year-old victim who was threatened that she would be arrested if she failed to pay back taxes of $4,098.
The victim noticed her phone caller ID function was displaying the number for the Exeter OPP Detachment, so she thought it was a genuine call. The victim was unaware the scammers use automated technology to steal the detachment phone number.
The victim purchased $1,500 worth of online gaming cards and transferred the remaining funds through a bitcoin automated teller. Fortunately, she was able to cancel some of the credit card purchases.
To avoid becoming a victim, Huron OPP advises you to always first check with another family member or trusted friend to verify the information BEFORE sending money, gift cards, credit card information, personal information or credit card information by phone or e-mail.
Other similar cases within the last 30 days involved a 45-year-old Bluewater resident who was threatened he would be arrested if he didn't pay at least 30% of an outstanding CRA balance of $4,900. Fearing arrest, the victim proceeded to purchase $800 worth of iTunes gift cards and provided the transaction codes to the scammer.
A 59-year-old Goderich woman received a call from a CRA "investigator" advising she owed $6,960 for back taxes. If she failed to pay she was going to be arrested by the RCMP. The victim purchased and sent the scammers $2,090 worth of various gift cards including online gaming cards.
And a 60-year-old Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh man is out $1,560 after he was told his girlfriend would be arrested if she didn't pay back her back taxes. Trying to help her out, he proceeded to contact the scammers and provided them with the gift card numbers and associated PIN numbers.