Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has warned the public about an increase in Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and Social Insurance Number (SIN) scams.
“Our Communications/9-1-1 Unit is seeing an increase in calls from residents reporting they have received calls from a person claiming to be an officer from the CRA. The scammers are also asking for SIN numbers under the pretense they were compromised. In a new twist, scammers are using our police non-emergency line, 905-579-1520, to appear legitimate,” said a DRPS statement.
Scammers often negotiate payment and suggest a lesser amount, collected by way of a third party card, gift card, credit card, pre-paid gift card or deposits into a Bitcoin ATM, installed at several locations across Durham Region.
Police warned the public to be wary of these types of scams. It said police or the CRA will never request payments by prepaid credit cards or leave personal information on an answering machine. It’s important to never give out your SIN number.
DRPS tips on how to protect yourself from fraud:
- Caller ID is a useful function, however, the information displayed can be altered by criminals. Don’t rely strictly on the displayed information to confirm the identity of the caller whether it be an individual, a company or a government entity.
- Never provide personal information through the Internet or by email. The CRA does not ask you to provide personal information by email.
- Keep your access codes, user ID’s, passwords, and PINs secret.
These warnings should be discussed with seniors or other vulnerable people who do not have access to this information via the Internet.
For more information or to report a scam attempt, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501. Anyone wishing to report a fraud in Durham Region is asked to contact Durham Regional Police at 1-888-579-1520.