As tax time arrives, so are email scams claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency.
One such scam begins as such: “Dear taxpayer, We would like to notify you that you still have an outstanding tax refund (rebate) of $458 CAD overpaid tax from year ending 2016.”
This scam includes a link to claim your refund. The link opens what appears to be a legitimate Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) webpage asking for your social insurance number. However, the address URL or address bar contains an address not belonging to the CRA. It’s phishing scam, used to acquire personal information that may be used for identity theft.
In another fake CRA phishing scam, an email message is received, supposedly from the agency, containing “your secure documents.” Recipients are asked to fill out and return the completed documents to a provided email address.
The real Canada Revenue Agency website states the agency will not send a any link asking you to divulge personal or financial information. It warns, never provide personal information through the Internet or by email.
The CRA also warms about telephone scams, stating if you receive a call saying you owe them money, to call them or check your CRA account online to be sure.
For more information about known CRA scams, visit http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/frdprvntn/menu-eng.html.