Saanich Police and other policing partners throughout the Greater Victoria area have reported previously about phone calls being made to Victoria area homes from someone purporting to be from the Canada Revenue Agency.
During these calls, the caller states that there are outstanding amounts due immediately and the caller threatens that Police will be contacted if payment is not made immediately. In most cases, a threat of an outstanding warrant for arrest is made by the caller. The caller expresses that the warrant will be waived if immediate payment is made.
The caller then attempts to obtain personal information from the recipient of the call, which can then be used for other fraud related purposes.
“Our call takers have reported receiving hundreds of calls from concerned citizens about this ongoing scam” Sgt. Steve Eassie said. “However, unless the person receiving the call has provided personal information, or has been actually defrauded of funds, there is no need for the phone call to be reported to police”.
Area residents should be aware that the Canada Revenue Agency will not solicit information by phone. “Should someone call your home stating they are from the CRA, it is more than likely that this is a scam” Eassie said. “The best thing to do is to simply hang up the phone and not provide any information”.
Area residents that have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), who simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, can report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (CAFC) by calling 1-888-495-8501.
Sgt. Steve Eassie #158