ONTARIO -- You’ve heard this story time and time again. A person’s telephone rings, and when they answer, a robotic voice on the line is informing them that the Canada Revenue Agency is demanding an immediate or else they send police to arrest the person unless they mail a set amount of gift cards to an unknown non-government address.
If you ever encounter a call like this, the Canada Revenue Agency wants you to know that a CRA agent will never ask for personal or financial information by email and ask you to click on a link. They will never demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards from retailers such as iTunes, Amazon, etc. They won’t use aggressive language or threaten you with an arrest or send the police. Send you an email with a link to your refund. Email you a link that demands you fill in an online form with personal or financial details. Set up a meeting in a public place to make a payment.
Canada Revenue Agency has protocols to ensure that your personal tax information is secure. If a CRA Agent does reach out to you, it is essential to make sure the caller is a CRA agent and a scammer.
Canada Revenue Agents identify themselves when contacting a person by providing their name and a phone number before proceeding with the inquiry.
They will ask about a tax debt. Initiate an audit process. Offer free tax help. Send you an email notification when a new message or a document, such as a notice of assessment or reassessment, is available in secure CRA portals. Provide you with a link to a webpage, form, or publication you asked for during a telephone call or a meeting with an agent.
If you suspect that you are a victim of a scam or fraud, don't hesitate to get in touch with your local police service, contact the CRA if you think your CRA user ID or password has been compromised to place additional security measures on your account, contact Service Canada if your social insurance number (SIN) has been stolen, and report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you have compromised your account and cannot comply with your tax obligations, you may be eligible for taxpayer relief from any resulting penalties or interest. For more information about relief from penalties or interest and the related forms and publications, see Cancel or waive penalties or interest.
