We see news every so often regarding scams where people are being threatened by the Canadian Revenue Agency,  the Police or other such agency where you have a warrant out for your arrest, or you are going to go to jail for something…  These can be very scary calls for people that are vulnerable.  Heck, they were scary for me as an adult that knew about the scams.

While looking for an example of  a recording, there are many out there.  If you go to YouTube, there are likely hundreds of recordings.  These scams are so common that the Canadian Revenue Agency actually has a section on their website on how to protect yourself from fraud.

How to protect yourself from identity theft

• As a general rule, you should not answer phone calls from a number that you don’t recognize.  If it is an important call, most people will leave a voicemail telling you why they are calling.
• You should go and add your number to Canada’s National “Do Not Call” list.  This will prevent most telemarketing calls.  If you have someone at home that is vulnerable, this will reduce the amount of “spam” coming to your telephone.
• Never provide personal information through the Internet or by email. The CRA does not ask you to provide personal information by email.
• Be suspicious if you are ever asked to pay taxes or fees to the CRA on lottery or sweepstakes winnings. You do not have to pay taxes or fees on these types of winnings. These requests are scams.
• Keep your access codes, user ID, passwords, and PINs secret.
• Keep your address current with all government departments and agencies.
• Choose your tax preparer carefully! Make sure you choose someone you trust and check their references. Always review your return, agree with the content before filing, and follow up to make sure you receive your notice of assessment, since it contains important financial and personal information that belongs to you.
• Before supporting any charity, use the CRA website at www.cra.gc.ca/charities to find out if the charity is registered and get more information on the way it does business.
• Be careful before you click on links in any email you receive. Some criminals may be using a technique known as phishing to steal your personal information when you click on the link.
• Caller ID is a useful function. However, the information displayed can be altered by criminals. Never use only the displayed information to confirm the identity of the caller whether it be an individual, a company or a government entity.
• Protect your social insurance number. Don’t use it as a piece of ID and never reveal it to anyone unless you are certain the person asking for it is legally entitled to that information. If an organization asks for your social insurance number, ask if it is legally required to collect it, and if not, offer other forms of ID.
• Pay attention to your billing cycle and ask about any missing account statements or suspicious transactions.
• Shred unwanted documents or store them in a secure place. Make sure that documents with your name and SIN are secure.
• Immediately report lost or stolen credit or debit cards.
• Carry only the ID you need.
• Do not write down any passwords or carry them with you.
• Ask a trusted neighbour to pick up your mail when you are away or ask that a hold be placed on delivery.

What should I do if I think I might have received a fraudulent call?

• You should report deceptive telemarketing to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or by calling 1-888-495-8501.
• If you suspect you may be the victim of fraud or have been tricked into giving personal or financial information, contact your local police service.
• If the CRA has confirmed that a taxpayer’s information has been compromised, the Agency will act to prevent the fraudulent use of the information involving systems and processes for which the CRA is responsible.
• If your social insurance number (SIN) has been stolen, you should contact Service Canada at 1-800-206-7218. For more information, see Social Insurance Number (Service Canada website).
• You can ask the CRA to disable online access to your information on the CRA login services by contacting them. After access to your information is disabled, you may change your mind and want access again. If so, you can contact us and ask that your access be re-activated.
• If you think your CRA user ID or the password you use in personal dealings with the CRA has been compromised, contact us.

Do you have any more tips for avoiding phone scams?  List them in the comments below.