by Ron Clarke
At the best of times, scams run rampant.
Add tax time to the picture, and the scams ramp up.
In addition to the ever present hidden threats rolling around in cyber space, there is the constant barrage of direct scams designed to disrupt your life.
Given this reality, here’s some insight on how to identify and protect yourself from targeted scammers pretending to be Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Phishing through the internet and cell service is the act of broadcasting masquerading websites, links, and messages in an attempt to have you supply personal information, make a direct payment, or corrupt your software on your computer or phone in order to pirate your friends, access your banking info, or worse, steal your identity.
To combat phishing, use a spam filter and firewall software, and keep it current since things change so fast.
More to the point, CRA will never use text messages or instant messaging such as Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to communicate with taxpayers under any circumstance.
If you receive a text or instant message claiming to be from the CRA, it’s a scam.
Regarding emails, CRA can only connect with you via email if you have set up “My Account” (or “My Business Account”) and authorized email communications with CRA.
If you have, when you receive an email from CRA, it will only state within the email that there is a message for you within your CRA “My Account” and ask you to log into your “My Account.”
An email from CRA will never offer a direct link to your “My Account,” or any link to anywhere for that matter and this includes a link to take you directly to a refund or to make a payment. CRA emails will never have an attachment.
CRA will never ask you to reply to their email.
Some other tips about emails, CRA does not use Gmail, Hotmail, etc.
Also, look at the messaging for poor spelling, grammar, math, and images.
And don’t skim read.
Actually read it word for word so you have a better chance of spotting errors.
When it comes to phone communications, if a CRA rep calls you they will identify themself by name and an employee number.
Then they will ask you to prove your identity by name, date of birth and social insurance number.
A CRA rep will not ask for any detail from your passport, drivers license or health card.
Noteworthy to the identification process, after the CRA rep has identified themself, before giving your personal detail, you can choose to ask for their contact phone number and offer to call them back.
Then you contact CRA’s general enquiry phone number to verify that the CRA rep who called you is actually a CRA employee, and if all is legit, then call the CRA rep back.
A CRA rep may leave a voicemail, but the message will never state your personal or financial information, nor leave any message designed to anger or entice you to call back immediately.
The CRA rep will leave their employee number and likely a phone number.
As noted above, for your protection you can go through the routine of investigating the CRA rep before directly calling the CRA rep back.
A CRA rep, whether on the phone with you or on voicemail, will never demand immediate payment by credit card, interac e-transfer, prepaid gift cards or bitcoin.
A CRA rep will never set up a meeting with you to pick up a payment.
A CRA rep will never use aggressive language or threaten to send the police.
Something you already know … be a critical thinker as you consider any message you receive via email, text, phone, or letter.
Of course this not only applies to CRA and other government agencies, but also charities, not-for-profits, and businesses.
They are all subject to masquerading scammers.
Ron Clarke, owner of JBS Business Services in Trail, provides accounting and tax services.