CRA Scams to Watch Out For

It is the time of year for CRA Scams to be commonplace. With scammers are getting crafty including faking Canadian phone numbers and emails, it is up to you to be warry and ask questions.

If you are not expecting a call from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) about an outstanding balance, or even a refund, ask for the person their name and say you will call back. Then call the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281 and see if there is any activity on your account that you need to be aware of.

According to the CRA Scam and Fraud department, in 2021 there were 106,306 reports of fraud and a total of 67,533 victims, which led to a total loss of $380 M in 2021.

The CRA has specific tips for recognizing each of these on the Scam & Fraud website 

  • Phone call frauds
  • Email & Mail fraud
  • Prepaid Cards/Bitcoin/E-transfer Payments
  • COVID-19 Scams & Fraud
  • Text Messages/Instant Messaging
  • Immigration Fraud

Tips to avoid CRA scams: 

  • Remember that the CRA will never request prepaid credit cards, gift cards, or cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin as payment
  • CRA will not send emails requesting you to verify personal information, like your SIN, phone, or with a link for a refund
  • CRA will not send text messages asking for personal information or have a link to a payment request or tax refund
  • CRA will never ask for information about your passport, health services card, driver’s license, or social security number
  • CRA will never leave personal information on your voicemail
  • If you have shared personal info or banking info, contact Equifax, Trans Union, and your bank to place fraud alerts on your account

 Remember that you can verify the legitimacy of any communication by contacting the CRA directly at 1-800-959-8281.

 If you have questions about your personal or business taxes, do not hesitate to contact us by filling out the form or give us a call at 250-744-3854