Tuesday, December 1st, 2015
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Beware of CRA Telephone Scam
Recently, a few Homestead Group customers have been contacted by individuals claiming to be from the CRA. These callers are very aggressive and forceful in their claim that unpaid taxes are owing to the CRA and must be paid immediately. They ask you to pay by credit card or pre-paid credit card. Often, they threaten charges, jail or deportation. THESE CALLS ARE FRAUDULENT.
The CRA:
- never requests prepaid credit cards;
- never asks for information about your passport, health card, or driver’s license;
- never shares your taxpayer information with another person, unless you have provided the appropriate authorization; and
- never leaves personal information on your answering machine or asks you to leave a message containing your personal information on an answering machine.
If you are a Homestead Group client, you have signed a Form 1013 which instructs the CRA to contact us if they have any questions or concerns about your tax return. If you receive such a phone call, ask them to call your accountant — we are on record with the CRA so they know how to contact us directly.
If you receive such a call, take note of the caller’s phone number, then contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.