The Battlefords RCMP is cautioning residents of its jurisdiction not to fall victim to fraud.
As of Tuesday, April 26th, the Battlefords RCMP Detachment had fielded around 200 calls over the previous 10 days from members of the public who reported being targeted by an ongoing phone scam. The caller claims to be a representative of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and threatens the call recipient with jail time if payment is not immediately transferred for alleged unpaid taxes.
The RCMP and Canada Revenue Agency are reminding the public to be aware of these ongoing phishing scams. The CRA typically requests any needed payment via mail. The Agency also never requests information from a taxpayer pertaining to passports, health cards, or driver’s licences.
Anyone who receives a similar call as the complaints filed recently, from someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency or someone calling on their behalf, is encouraged to not provide any personal information and to end the call.
The RCMP seek to remind the public that if something sounds suspicious, it likely is; if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
If you are a victim of a phone scam and have given out personal information, you can contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at [email protected]
For information on how to protect yourself against fraud, including how to recognize a scam and examples of fraudulent communications, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/scrty/frdprvntn/menu-eng.html or go to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Web page at: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/scams-fraudes/phishing-eng.htm.
Other resources include the following hotlines:
- Canadian Anti Fraud Centre at 1-888-654-9426.
- SeniorBusters Program at 1-888-495-8501 toll free, anywhere in North America
If you have information regarding these crimes or the scammers, contact Battlefords RCMP Detachment at 306-446-1720.