Crime

DRPS Warning: CRA and SIN scams ramping up

November 17, 2019
DP Staff
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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 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 media release.

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, it said.

“Police would like to warn the public to be wary of these types of scams. 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 said.

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, 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.

Toronto faces similar spike

Toronto Police Service has also issued a public warning about an ongoing telephone scam.

It is reported the telephone call starts with someone claiming they work for the government or a police agency. The caller claims that your Social Insurance Number (SIN) was used to fraudulently open bank accounts, and other illegal transactions.

The caller will provide a false name, ID number and/or badge number, and will give the following instructions:

  • The caller will ask you to send money via Bitcoin to a fake government account
  • The caller will make false threats that failure to comply will result in an arrest warrant issued, or they will send local police to their home and arrest them immediately
  • The caller may also insist the money be paid by gift cards or other crypto-currencies, credit card, or through Western Union

In some cases the fraudsters use a program to display the telephone number of either the revenue agency or local police on the victim’s caller ID display.

Numerous residents have continued to receive telephone calls from these scammers. The public should be aware that police do not collect money for the Canada Revenue Agency. Although everyone is at risk of falling victim to these scams, elderly people are among the most vulnerable.

The CRA will not do the following:

  • Send emails with a link and ask you to divulge personal or financial information
  • Ask for personal information of any kind by email or text message
  • Request payments by prepaid credit cards, gift cards or through Bitcoin or any form of crypto-currency
  • Give taxpayer information to another person, unless formal authorization is provided by the taxpayer
  • Leave personal information on an answering machine
  • Or send the police after you

Anyone who receives these types of calls should hang up the phone immediately.

Don’t ever give out any personal information, including identification numbers, passwords or financial information, TPS said.

If you or a family member has fallen victim to this fraud, please report it to your local police service, as well as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).

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