Scammers pretending to be from the CRA
It is tax time in Canada and many Canadians are expecting tax refunds. The deadline to pay your tax bill is April 30th. If you operate a sole proprietorship, you can file your tax return by June 15th; however, you still need to pay any outstanding bill by April 30th. If you are receiving a refund, then there will be no penalties if you file late. Refunds have been a target for email scammers lately. Some individuals have been receiving emails claiming to be CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) stating that you need to click on a link to receive your tax refund. Be careful!
These suspicious emails are from scam artists. One individual in Kingston, according to the local Kingston paper, stated that she had received an email from Gilles Dompierre of the Department o Revenue, Canada. The email had informed the individual that she was entitled to a tax refund of $241.34 refund.
According to CRA’s website, they indicate that the name Gilles Dompierre is fictitious and is being used as a scam. CRA also warns taxpayers on its website to be cautious regarding telephone and email communication that states it is from CRA.
In the particular email scams, the email requests that you click on a link to get a direct deposit for your tax refund. They also request that you enter your SIN. CRA usually communicates confidential information by mail or fax. So, any unsuspecting emails from CRA should be questioned. On this year’s tax return, however, there is a section to insert your email address for communication. If you did provide this email information to CRA, do not click on links or disclose your personal information in any emails claiming to be from CRA.
CRA has not been the only tax agency that has been targeted. These scammers have also been sending emails with links to false IRS (Internal Revenue Service) websites. These fake websites ask victims to submit their personal information to steal their identity. Once again, tax agency usually don’t communicate by email.
Be careful when receiving emails that state they are from CRA and request your personal information. A good rule of thumb is to communicate to CRA through the mail. At Tax Doctors Canada, we also advise our clients to always consult with one of our certified tax accountants when dealing with the CRA, which adds another layer of protection against scammers pretending to represent official tax agencies.
