Owen Sound police are warning area residents that fraudulent tax collection scam attempts continue in the city and and surrounding municipalities.
In the last week alone, police say a local financial consultant had helped about 12 clients avoid being taken in by the scam.
Callers posing as Canada Revenue Agency collectors contact unsuspecting victims, many times targeting seniors, claiming that they owe a stated amount of money in tax arrears.
The callers are often very aggressive and threaten arrest or other consequences if payment is not received immediately. The caller provides direction on how payment is to be made, often through electronic money transfers.
The Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre are both aware of this scam and have posted on their websites numerous recommendations to protect people from this and similar types of fraudulent criminal activity.
Anyone suspecting fraudulent activity relating to their taxes are encouraged to report it to:
The C.R.A.'s "LEADS" Program: 1-866-809-6841
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (Phone Busters):1-888-495-8501
To protect yourself from frauds:
- Never take immediate action. Verify that what you are being told is the truth.
- Ask yourself why the C.R.A. would be asking for personal information over the phone or e-mail that they likely already have on file for you as a taxpayer.
- Contact the C.R.A. to confirm that you in fact owe back taxes, or are entitled to a refund, before providing any personal or banking information.