Posted on Tuesday March 01, 2016
March marks Fraud Awareness Month and every Tuesday we will be highlighting a different scam and tips on how you can protect yourself against fraudsters. We will also be hosting an interactive chat on Twitter the last week of March where citizens can have their questions answered in real time.
First, we’ll highlight the Telephone Scam. In this scam, someone will call your home in an attempt to have you send money or get you to divulge personal banking information.
A current scam happening right now is the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scam. We’ve seen a recent increase in the number of tax-related scams where fraudsters contact the victim and identify themselves as police officers collecting overdue taxes on behalf of the CRA. In some cases, the suspects have been able use software to make it appear as if they are calling from a police phone line.
Organizations such as York Regional Police, the CRA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will never ask you to divulge personal or banking information over the phone.
Another way fraudsters try to get your money is by claiming there is an emergency and they need money right away. Often, the caller will pretend to be a grandchild who has been arrested or in an accident. The caller may also claim to be a lawyer representing a relative and demand a money transfer in order to help your loved one.
Always exercise caution if you are approached in this manner. Never transfer money and ask the caller if you can call them back so you can research the information they have given you.
If they persist in harassing you or threatening you in anyway, please contact police at 1-866-876-5423.
Check back with us next week as we discuss Phishing, an online and email scam.
