Don’t get scammed this tax season
Posted March 2, 2014 1:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Just in time for tax season, a new and improved scam is making the ’rounds and it’s targeting people in the Lower Mainland.
People are getting phone calls from someone claiming to work for the Canada Revenue Agency telling them they need to pay off close to $2,000 in back taxes. The person also says the debt can be paid off with a money order or gift cards.
“They’re preying on the fear of the person they’re phoning. They’re claiming that if they don’t pay the taxes, the police are going to come and knock on the door, arrest them, and put them in jail. They’re preying on the odd person that will take the call seriously, that’ll be concerned that they’ll be in trouble with the law if they don’t pay these taxes and they’re hoping that they’re the ones that are ultimately going to send them money.”
VPD Sgt. Randy Fincham says in some cases scammers have not only the phone number but the address of the person they’re targeting, possibly getting that information through stolen mail.
