Be aware: Fraud scams targeting Niagara Residents
Hi everyone! Below are two Media Releases regarding fraud in the area.
Fraud - Tax Scams Target Niagara Residents
It is that time of year when Canadians are in the process of filing their income tax returns and either waiting for refunds or making additional payments. The Niagara Regional Police Service has received numerous complaints from residents that have been targeted by a number of common tax scam. Victims have been targeted by phone and email from individuals claiming to work for the Canada Revenue Agency requesting personal information such as social insurance numbers and banking information to either deposit refunds or make payments for taxes owed. In some cases, victims are told that they have an outstanding balance that, if not paid immediately, will result in arrest, deportation or the seizure of homes, vehicles, bank accounts and other assets. Payment is demanded through the purchase of pre-paid credit cards or e-mail transfer.
These types of communication are meant to elicit a sense of stress and urgency. Do not take immediate action and verify the legitimacy of the communication before providing personal information or money. Take the time to consider:
- CRA will not request personal information by email - Has the information requested been provided to CRA previously or is the type of information requested not the type of information you are used to providing to CRA - Are you expecting a refund - Is the method of payment suspicious, for example, a request to purchase pre-paid give cards and provide the caller with those numbers or send money by email.
Before taking action, contact the Canada Revenue Agency directly by obtaining phone numbers from the CRA's webpage to verify that money is owed to or by you, or the CRA requires additional information. Do not rely on the phone numbers provided by the caller, mail or email sender, and never click on a link in an email. While CRA does contact people by phone, scammers can spoof phone numbers to appear as if the number belongs to CRA.
These scams are continuously changing and evolving. For more information on these scams visit the Canada Revenue Agency's webpage http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/menu-eng.html
Submitted By: Paul SpiridiApproved By: Paul Spiridi
Information on crimes can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara. To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via: Telephone - 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) Online - www.niagaratips.com Text - 274637(CRIMES), keyword Niagara, then your tip. Crime Stoppers guarantees that you will remain anonymous through any of the methods offered to provide tips. You may also be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 if the information leads to an arrest.
Click here to view this article on our website.
Fraud - Utility Scam Continues to Target Niagara Businesses
The Niagara Regional Police Service is warning businesses of a scam that continues to target local businesses. Businesses are being contacted and advised that they have an overdue balance with Grimsby Power, and if payment is not made immediately by credit card or electronic transfer, the power will be disconnected. In some cases, victims are used to obtain pre-paid credit cards and provide the callers with the card and pin numbers. This is a scam that has targeted businesses in many communities using the names of local utility companies. Businesses are reminded to not rush into making any payments based on unsolicited phone calls. Businesses should verify any outstanding or overdue balances by contacting their utility company directly using the contact information from a previous bill or the utility's website and not rely on any information provided by the caller. If you believe you have fallen victim to this scam, contact your credit card company and advise them about the transaction.
Submitted By: Paul SpiridiApproved By: Paul Spiridi
Information on crimes can also be submitted anonymously using Crime Stoppers of Niagara. To leave an anonymous tip, please contact Crime Stoppers via: Telephone - 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) Online - www.niagaratips.com Text - 274637(CRIMES), keyword Niagara, then your tip. Crime Stoppers guarantees that you will remain anonymous through any of the methods offered to provide tips. You may also be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000 if the information leads to an arrest.
Click here to view this article on our website.
